»1M 


■  # 

■  ■ 

!'. 

MgjjjBjMCjijSt 


THE  ODYSSEY  OF  HOMER 


TRANSLATED  BY 


GEORGE  HERBERT  PALMER 

ALFORD   PROFESSOR   OF   PHILOSOPHY   IN   HARVARD   UNIVERSITY 


BOSTON    AND    NEW   YORK 

HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN   AND   COMPANY 

(ftfre  fttocrsi&c  press,  CambriDgc 

1894 


Copyright,  1891, 
By  G.  H.  PALMER. 

All  rights  reserved. 


752 


FOURTH    EDITION. 


c       c 

11       <      11 


I   I    I     <  c 

C         I 

«  ' 

l      l    .    l  I     c      t   C   i     t 


The  Riverside  Press,  Cambridge,  3fass.,  U.  S.  A. 
Electrotype*!  and  Printed  by  H.  O.  Houghton  &  Co. 


2ot  TrpwTov  <T7rei'§co  y  fioi  ttotc  Stomas  iSe<x#cu 
NavcriKaav  'EAcVrys  re  X^PLV  Kai  Il7yi/eA.07r€tav 


PREFACE. 


In  this  translation  of  the  Odyssey  I  have  had  the 
following  aims  :  — 

To  give  to  the  thought  of  Homer  a  more  direct  and 
simple  expression  than  has  hitherto  been  judged  ad- 
missible ;  to  be  at  once  minutely  faithful  to  the  Greek 
original  and  to  keep  out  of  sight  the  fact  that  either 
an  original  or  a  translator  exists ;  to  present  especially 
the  objective,  unreflective,  realistic,  and  non-literary 
features  of  the  primitive  story ;  to  report  in  all  their 
delicacy  the  events  which  Homer  reports,  to  exhibit 
his  attitude  of  mind  toward  them,  and  to  produce 
again  the  impression  produced  by  him  that  things 
did  happen  just  so ;  in  the  wording,  to  discard  origi- 
nality and  to  make  free  use  of  the  fortunate  phrases 
of  preceding  translators  ;  but  to  employ  persistently 
the  veracious  language,  the  language  of  prose,  rather 
than  the  dream  language,  the  language  of  poetry; 
and  still  to  confess  that  the  story,  unlike  a  bare  record 
of  fact,  is  throughout,  like  poetry,  illuminated  with  an 
underglow  of  joy ;  to  mark  gently  this  permeating  joy 
by  a  simple  rhythm,  a  rhythm  so  unobtrusive  and  so 
free  from   systematic  arrangement  that  no  one  need 


vi  PREFACE. 

turn  from  the  matter  to  mark  the  movement ;  above 
all,  to  discharge  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  the  great 
friend  who  for  twenty-five  years  has  been  showing  me 
the  beauty  of  himself  and  of  the  world  ;  and  finally, 
to  make  it  plain  that  I  cannot  attain  these  aims,  and 
to  commend  them  to  others  as  alluring  and  impos- 
sible. 

Cambridge,  February  21,  1891. 


CONTENTS. 

♦ — 

PAGE 

I.  The  Council  of  the  Gods  and  the  Summons  to 

Telemachus 1 

II.   The  Assembly  at  Ithaca  and  the  Departure  of 

Telemachus 15 

III.  At  Pylos 29 

IV.  At  Lacedaemon                         45 

V.   The  Raft  of  Odysseus 72 

VI.   The  Landing  in  Phaeacia 88 

VII.   The   Welcome  of  Alcinous 99 

VIII.  The  Stay  in  Phaeacia 110 

IX.   The  Story  told  to  Alcinous. — The  Cyclops         .  129 

X.   Aeolus,  the  Laestrygonians,  and  Circe     .        .  147 

XI.   The  Land  of  the  Dead 165 

XII.   The  Sirens,  Scylla,  Charybdis,  and  the  Kine  of 

the  Sun 185 

XIII.  From  Phaeacia  to  Ithaca 199 

XIV.  The  Stay  with  Eumaeus 213 

XV.   Telemachus  and  Eumaeus 230 

XVI.   The  Recognition  by  Telemachus  ....      248 

XVII.   The  Return  of  Telemachus  to  Ithaca  .        .  263 

XVIII.   The  Fight  of  Odysseus  and  Irus  .        .        .      2S2 

XIX.   The  Meeting  with  Penelope  and  the  Recogni- 
tion by  Eurycleia 296 

XX.   Before  the  Slaughter 315 

XXI.   The  Trial  of  the  Bow 328 

XXII.   The  Slaughter  of  the  Suitors     ....      342 

XXIII.  The  Recognition  by  Penelope 358 

XXIV.  Peace.        .  370 


THE  ODYSSEY   OF  HOMER. 


THE   COUNCIL   OF   THE   GODS   AND   THE   SUMMONS   TO 

TELEMACHUS. 

Speak  to  me,  Muse,  of  the  adventurous  man  who 
wandered  long  after  he  sacked  the  sacred  citadel  of 
Troy.  Many  the  men  whose  towns  he  saw,  whose 
ways  he  proved  ;  and  many  a  pang  he  bore  in  his  own 
breast  at  sea  while  struggling  for  his  life  and  his  men's 
safe  return.  Yet  even  so,  by  all  his  zeal,  he  did  not 
save  his  men ;  for  through  their  own  perversity  they 
perished  —  fools !  who  devoured  the  kine  of  the  ex- 
alted Sun.  Wherefore  he  took  away  the  day  of  their 
return.  Of  this,  O  goddess,  daughter  of  Zeus,  begin- 
ning where  thou  wilt,  speak  to  us  also. 

Now  all  the  others  who  were  saved  from  utter  ruin 
were  at  home,  safe  both  from  war  and  sea.  Him  only, 
longing  for  his  home  and  wife,  the  ]3otent  nymph  Ca- 
lypso, a  heavenly  goddess,  held  in  her  hollow  grotto, 
desiring  him  to  be  her  husband.  Nay,  when  the  time 
had  come  in  the  revolving  years  at  which  the  gods 
ordained  his  going  home  to  Ithaca,  even  then,  among 
his  kin,  he  was  not  freed  from  trouble.  Yet  the  gods 
felt  compassion,  all  save  Poseidon,  who  steadily  strove 
with  godlike  Odysseus  till  he  reached  his  land. 


eric 


2  TEE    ODYSSEY.  [I.  22-54. 

But  Poseidon  now  was  with  the  far-off  Ethiopians, 
the  remotest  of  mankind,  who  form  two  tribes,  one 
at  the  setting  of  the  Exalted  one,  one  at  his  rising ; 
awaiting  there  a  sacrifice  of  bulls  and  rams.  So  sit- 
ting at  the  feast  he  took  his  pleasure.  The  other 
gods,  meanwhile,  were  gathered  in  the  halls  of  Zeus 
upon  Olympus,  and  thus  began  the  father  of  men  and 
gods  ;  for  in  his  mind  he  mused  of  gentle  Aegisthus, 
whom  Agamemnon's  far-famed  son,  Orestes,  slew. 
Mindful  of  him,  he  thus  addressed  the  immortals : 

"Lo,  how  men  blame  the  gods!  From  us,  they 
say,  spring  troubles.  But  through  their  own  perver- 
sity, and  more  than  is  their  due,  they  meet  with  sor- 
row ;  even  as  now  Aegisthus,  pressing  beyond  his  due, 
married  the  lawful  wife  of  the  son  of  Atreus  and  slew 
her  husband  on  his  coining  home.  Yet  he  well  knew 
his  own  impending  ruin ;  for  we  ourselves  forewarned 
him,  dispatching  Hermes,  our  clear-sighted  Speedy- 
comer,  and  told  him  not  to  slay  the  man  nor  woo  the 
wife.  '  For  because  of  the  son  of  Atreus  shall  come 
vengeance  from  Orestes  when  he  is  grown  and  longs 
for  his  own  land.'  This  Hermes  said,  but  did  not 
turn  the  purpose  of  Aegisthus  by  his  kindness,  And 
now  Aegisthus  makes  atonement  for  it  all." 

Then  answered  him  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene : 
"  Our  father,  son  of  Kronos,  most  high  above  all 
rulers,  that  man  assuredly  lies  in  befitting  ruin.  So 
perish  all  who  do  such  deeds!  Yet  is  my  heart  dis- 
tressed for  wise  Odysseus,  hapless  man,  who,  long  cut 
off  from  friends,  is  meeting  hardship  upon  a  sea-girt 
island,  the  navel  of  the  sea.  Woody  the  island  is, 
and  there  a  goddess  dwells,  daughter  of  wizard  Atlas 
who  knows  the  depths  of  every  sea  and  through  his 
power  holds  the  tall  pillars  which  keep  earth  and  sky 


1.55-87.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  3 

asunder.  It  is  bis  daughter  who  detains  this  hapless, 
sorrowing  man,  ever  with  tender  and  insistent  words 
enticing  to  forgetfulness  of  Ithaca.  And  still  Odys- 
seus, through  longing  but  to  see  the  smoke  spring 
from  his  land,  desires  to  die.  Nevertheless,  your  heart 
turns  not,  Olympian  one.  Did  not  Odysseus  seek  your 
favor  beside  the  Argive  ships  and  offer  sacrifice  upon 
the  plain  of  Troy?  Why  then  are  you  so  wroth 
against  him,  Zeus?  " 

Then  answered  her  cloud-gathering  Zeus,  and  said  : 
"  My  child,  what  word  has  passed  the  barrier  of  your 
teeth?  How  could  I  possibly  forget  princely  Odys- 
seus, who  is  beyond  all  mortal  men  in  wisdom,  beyond 
them  too  in  giving  honor  to  the  immortal  gods,  who 
hold  the  open  sky?  Nay,  but  Poseidon,  the  girder 
of  the  land,  is  ceaselessly  enraged  because  Odysseus 
blinded  of  his  eye  the  Cyclops,  god-like  Polyphemus, 
who  of  all  Cyclops  has  the  greatest  power.  A  nymph, 
Thoosa,  bore  him,  daughter  of  Phorcys,  lord  of  the 
barren  sea,  for  she  within  the  hollow  caves  united 
with  Poseidon.  And  since  that  day  the  earth-shaking 
Poseidon  does  not  indeed  destroy  Odysseus,  but  ever 
drives  him  wandering  from  his  land.  Come  then,  let 
us  all  here  plan  for  his  turning  home.  So  shall  Posei- 
don lay  by  his  anger,  unable,  in  defiance  of  us  all,  to 
strive  with  the  immortal  gods  alone." 

Then  answered  him  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene : 
"  Our  father,  son  of  Kronos,  most  high  above  all 
rulers,  if  it  now  please  the  blessed  gods  that  wise 
Odysseus  shall  return  to  his  own  home,  let  us  send 
Hermes  forth  —  the  Guide,  the  Speedy-comer  —  into 
the  island  of  Ogygia,  straightway  to  tell  the  fair- 
haired  nymph  our  steadfast  purpose,  that  hardy  Odys- 
seus shall  set  forth   upon  his   homeward  way.     I   in 


4  THE   ODYSSEY.  [1.88-119. 

the  mean  while  go  to  Ithaca,  to  rouse  his  son  yet 
more  and  to  put  vigor  in  his  breast ;  that,  summon- 
ing to  an  assembly  the  long-haired  Achaeans,  he  may 
denounce  the  troop  of  suitors,  men  who  coutinually 
butcher  his  thronging  flocks  and  swing-paced,  crook- 
horned  oxen.  And  I  will  send  him  to  Sparta  and  to 
sandy  Pylos,  to  try  to  learn  of  his  dear  father's  com- 
ing, and  so  to  win  a  good  report  among  mankind." 

Saying  this,  under  her  feet  she  bound  her  beautiful 
sandals,  immortal,  made  of  gold,  which  carry  her  over 
the  flood  and  over  the  boundless  land  swift  as  a  breath 
of  wind.  She  took  her  ponderous  spear,  tipped  with 
sharp  bronze,  thick,  long,  and  strong,  with  which  she 
vanquishes  the  ranks  of  men,  —  of  heroes,  even,  — 
when  this  daughter  of  a  mighty  sire  is  roused  against 
them.  Then  she  went  dashing  down  the  ridges  of 
Olympus  and  in  the  land  of  Ithaca  stood  at  Odysseus' 
gate,  on  the  threshold  of  his  court.  Holding  in 
hand  a  brazen  spear,  she  seemed  the  stranger  Mentes, 
the  Taphian  leader.  Here  then  she  found  the  haughty 
suitors.  They  were  amusing  themselves  with  games 
of  draughts  before  the  palace  door,  seated  on  hides  of 
oxen  which  they  themselves  had  slain.  Their  pages 
and  busy  squires  were  near ;  some  mixing  wine  and 
water  in  the  bowls,  others  with  porous  sponges  wash- 
ing and  laying  tables,  while  others  still  carved  them 
abundant  meat. 

By  far  the  first  to  see  Athene  was  princely  Telema- 
chus.  For  he  was  sitting  with  the  suitors,  sad  at  heart, 
picturing  in  mind  his  noble  father,  —  how  he  might 
come  from  somewhere,  make  a  scattering  of  the  suitors, 
take  to  himself  his  honors,  and  be  master  of  his  own. 
Thus  thinking  while  he  sat  among  the  suitors,  Athene 
met  his  eye.     Straight  to  the  door  he  went,  being  at 


1.120-151.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  5 

heart  ashamed  to  have  a  stranger  stand  so  long  before 
his  gate.  So  drawing  near  and  grasping  her  right 
hand,  he  took  her  brazen  spear,  and  speaking  in  winged 
words  he  said  :  "  Hail,  stranger,  here  with  us  you 
shall  be  welcome ;  and  by  and  by  when  you  have  tasted 
food,  you  shall  make  known  your  needs." 

Saying  this,  he  led  the  way,  and  Pallas  Athene  fol- 
lowed. When  they  were  come  within  the  lofty  hall, 
he  carried  the  spear  to  a  tall  pillar  and  set  it  in  a 
well-worn  rack,  where  also  stood  many  a  spear  of  hardy 
Odysseus.  Athene  herself  he  led  to  a  chair  and  seated, 
spreading  a  linen  cloth  below.  Good  was  the  chair 
and  richly  wrought ;  upon  its  lower  part  there  was  a 
rest  for  feet.  Beside  it,  for  himself,  he  set  a  sumptu- 
ous seat  apart  from  all  the  suitors,  for  fear  the  stran- 
ger, meeting  rude  men  and  worried  by  their  din, 
might  lose  his  taste  for  food ;  and  then  that  he  might 
ask  him,  too,  about  his  absent  father.  Now  water  for 
the  hands  a  servant  brought  in  a  beautiful  pitcher 
made  of  gold,  and  poured  it  out  over  a  silver  basin 
for  their  washing,  and  spread  a  polished  table  by  their 
side.  And  the  grave  housekeeper  brought  bread  and 
placed  before  them,  setting  out  food  of  many  a  kind, 
freely  giving  of  her  store.  The  carver,  too,  took  plat- 
ters of  meat,  and  placed  before  them,  meat  of  all 
kinds,  and  set  their  golden  goblets  ready;  while  a 
page,  pouring  wine,  passed  to  and  fro  between  them. 

And  now  the  haughty  suitors  entered.  These  soon 
took  seats  in  order,  on  couches  and  on  chairs.  Pages 
poured  water  on  their  hands,  maids  heaped  them  bread 
in  baskets,  and  young  men  brimmed  the  bowls  with 
drink ;  and  on  the  food  spread  out  before  them 
they  laid  hands.  So  after  they  had  stayed  desire  for 
drink  and  food,  then  in  their  thoughts  they  turned  to 


6  THE   ODYSSEY.  [1.152-185. 

other  things,  the  song  and  dance ;  for  these  attend  a 
feast.  A  page  put  a  beautiful  harp  into  the  hands  of 
Phemius,  who  sang  perforce  among  the  suitors ;  and 
touching  the  harp,  he  raised  his  voice  and  sang  a  beau- 
tiful song.  Then  said  Telemachus  to  clear-eyed  Athene, 
his  head  bent  close,  that  others  might  not  hear : 

"  Good  stranger,  will  you  feel  offense  at  what  I  say  ? 
These  things  are  all  their  care,  — the  harp  and  song, 
—  an  easy  care  when,  making  no  amends,  they  eat  the 
substance  of  a  man  whose  white  bones  now  are  rotting 
in  the  rain,  if  lying  on  the  land,  or  in  the  sea  the 
waters  roll  them  round.  Yet  were  they  once  to  see 
him  coming  home  to  Ithaca,  they  all  would  pray  rather 
for  speed  of  foot  than  stores  of  gold  and  clothing. 
But  he,  instead,  by  some  hard  fate  is  gone,  and  naught 
remains  to  us  of  comfort  —  no,  not  if  any  man  on 
earth  shall  say  he  still  will  come.  Passed  is  his  day  of 
coming.  But  now  declare  me  this  and  plainly  tell,  who 
are  you  ?  Of  what  people  ?  Where  is  your  town  and 
kindred?  On  what  ship  did  you  come?  And  how 
did  sailors  bring  you  to  Ithaca  ?  Whom  did  they  call 
themselves  ?  For  I  am  sure  you  did  not  come  on  foot. 
And  tell  me  truly  this,  that  I  may  know  full  well  if 
for  the  first  time  now  you  visit  here,  or  are  you  my 
father's  friend?  For  many  foreigners  once  sought 
our  home ;  because  Odysseus  also  was  a  rover  among 
men." 

Then  said  to  him  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene : 
"  Well,  I  will  very  plainly  tell  you  all :  Mentes  I  call 
myself,  the  son  of  wise  Anchialus,  and  I  am  lord  of  the 
oar-loving  Taphians.  Even  now  I  put  in  here,  with 
ship  and  crew,  when  sailing  over  the  wine-dark  sea  to 
men  of  a  strange  speech,  to  Temese,  for  bronze.  I 
carry  glittering  iron.     Here  my  ship  lies,  just  off  the 


I.  186-220.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  7 

fields  outside  the  town,  within  the  bay  of  Reithron 
under  woody  Nei'on.  Hereditary  friends  we  count 
ourselves  from  early  days,  as  you  may  learn  if  you 
will  go  and  ask  old  lord  Laertes,  who,  people  say, 
comes  to  the  town  no  more,  but  far  out  in  the  coun- 
try suffers  hardship,  an  aged  woman  his  attendant, 
who  supplies  him  food  and  drink  whenever  weariness 
weighs  down  his  knees,  as  he  creeps  about  his  slope  of 
garden  ground.  Even  now  I  came,  for  I  was  told 
your  father  was  at  home.  But,  as  I  see,  the  gods  de- 
lay his  journey ;  for  surely  nowhere  yet  on  earth  has 
royal  Odysseus  died ;  living,  he  lingers  somewhere  still 
on  the  wide  sea,  upon  some  sea-girt  island,  and  cruel 
men  constrain  him  —  some  savage  folk,  who  hold  him 
there  against  his  will.  Nay,  I  will  prophesy  such 
things  as  the  immortals  bring  to  mind,  things  which 
I  think  will  happen ;  although  I  am  no  prophet  and 
have  no  skill  in  birds.  Not  long  shall  he  be  absent 
from  his  own  dear  land,  though  iron  fetters  bind  him. 
Some  means  he  will  devise  to  come  away ;  for  many  a 
shift  has  he.  But  now,  declare  me  this  and  plainly 
tell,  if  you  indeed  —  so  tall  —  are  the  true  son  of 
Odysseus.  In  head  and  beautiful  eyes  you  surely  are 
much  like  him.  So  often  we  were  together  before  he 
embarked  for  Troy,  where  others  too,  the  bravest  of 
the  Argives,  went  in  their  hollow  ships.  But  since 
that  day  I  have  not  seen  Odysseus,  nor  he  me." 

Then  answered  her  discreet  Telemachus :  "  Yes, 
stranger,  I  will  plainly  tell  you  all.  My  mother  says 
I  am  his  child ;  I  myself  do  not  know ;  for  no  one 
ever  yet  knew  his  own  parentage.  Yet  would  I  were 
the  son  of  some  blest  man  on  whom  old  age  had  come 
amongst  his  own  possessions.  But  now,  the  man  born 
most  ill-fated  of  all  human  kind  —  of  him  they  say  I 
come,  since  this  you  ask  me." 


8  THE    ODYSSEY.  [I.  221-252. 

Then  said  to  him  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene  : 
"  Surely  the  gods  meant  that  your  house  should  not 
lack  future  fame,  when  to  such  son  as  you  Penelope 
gave  birth.  Nevertheless  declare  me  this  and  truly 
tell,  what  is  the  feast  ?  What  company  is  this  ? 
And  what  is  your  part  here  ?  Some  drinking  bout  or 
wedding?  It  surely  is  no  festival  at  common  cost. 
So  rude  they  seem,  and  wanton,  feasting  about  the 
hall.  A  man  of  sense  must  be  indignant  who  comes 
and  sees  such  outrage." 

Then  answered  her  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  Stran- 
ger, —  since  now  you  ask  of  this  and  question  me,  — 
in  former  days  this  house  bade  fair  to  be  wealthy 
and  esteemed,  so  long  as  he  was  here ;  but  the  hard- 
purposed  gods  then  changed  their  minds  and  shut  him 
from  our  knowledge  more  than  all  men  beside.  For 
were  he  dead,  I  should  not  feel  such  grief,  if  he  had 
fallen  among  comrades  in  the  Trojan  land,  or  in  the 
arms  of  friends  when  the  skein  of  war  was  wound. 
Then  would  the  whole  Achaean  host  have  made  his 
grave,  and  for  his  son  in  after  days  a  great  name  had 
been  gained.  Now,  silently  the  robber  winds  have 
swept  him  off.  Gone  is  he,  past  all  sight  and  hear- 
ing, and  sighs  and  sorrows  he  has  left  to  me.  Yet 
now  I  do  not  grieve  and  mourn  for  him  alone ;  be- 
cause the  gods  have  brought  me  other  sore  distress. 
For  all  the  nobles  who  bear  sway  among  the  islands, 
—  Doulichion,  Same,  and  woody  Zacynthos,  —  and 
they  who  have  the  power  in  rocky  Ithaca,  all  woo  my 
mother  and  despoil  my  home.  She  neither  declines 
the  hated  suit  nor  has  she  power  to  end  it ;  while 
they  with  feasting  impoverish  my  home  and  soon 
will  bring  me  also  to  destruction." 

Stirred  into  anger,  Pallas  Athene  spoke :  "  Alas  ! 


I.  253-288. j  THE   ODYSSEY.  9 

in  very  truth  you  greatly  need  absent  Odysseus,  to  lay 
hands  on  the  shameless  suitors.  What  if  he  came 
even  now  and  here  before  his  house  stood  at  the  outer 
gate,  with  helmet,  shield,  and  his  two  spears,  —  even 
such  as  when  I  saw  him  first  at  my  own  home,  drink- 
ing and  making  merry,  on  his  return  from  Ephyra, 
from  Ilus,  son  of  Mermerus.  For  thither  on  his  swift 
ship  went  Odysseus,  seeking  a  deadly  drug  in  which 
to  dip  his  brazen  arrows.  And  Ilus  did  not  give  it, 
for  he  feared  the  immortal  gods ;  'my  father,  however, 
gave  it,  for  he  held  him  strangely  dear.  If  as  he 
was  that  day  Odysseus  now  might  meet  the  suitors, 
they  all  would  find  quick  turns  of  fate  and  bitter  rites 
of  marriage.  Still,  in  the  gods'  lap  it  lies  to  say  if 
he  shall  come  and  wreak  revenge  within  his  halls; 
but  yours  it  is  to  plan  to  thrust  the  suitors  from  your 
door.  Give  me  your  ear  and  heed  my  words.  To- 
morrow, summoning  to  an  assembly  the  Achaean 
lords,  announce  your  will  to  all  and  call  the  gods  to 
witness !  Bid  the  suitors  all  disperse,  each  to  his 
own.  And  for  your  mother,  if  her  heart  inclines  to 
marriage,  let  her  return  to  her  strong  father's  hall. 
They  there  shall  make  the  wedding  and  provide  the 
many  gifts  which  should  accompany  a  well-loved 
child.  Then  for  yourself  I  offer  sound  advice,  if 
you  will  hearken.  Man  the  best  ship  you  have 
with  twenty  oarsmen,  and  go  and  gather  tidings  of 
your  long-absent  father.  Perhaps  some  man  may  tell 
you,  or  you  may  catch  a  rumor  sent  from  Zeus, 
which  oftenest  carries  tidings.  First  go  to  Pylos,  and 
question  royal  Nestor.  Then  on  to  Sparta,  to  light- 
haired  Menelaus  ;  for  he  came  last  of  all  the  mailed 
Achaeans.  And  if  you  hear  your  father  is  alive 
and  coming  home,  then,  worn  as  you  are,  you  might 


10  THE    ODYSSEY.  Li.  289-320. 

endure  for  one  year  more.  But  if  you  hear  that  he 
is  dead,  —  no  longer  with  the  living  —  you  shall  at 
once  return  to  your  own  native  land,  and  pile  his 
mound  and  pay  the  funeral  rites,  full  many,  as  are 
due,  and  you  shall  give  your  mother  to  a  husband. 
Moreover,  after  you  have  ended  this  and  finished  all, 
within  your  mind  and  heart  consider  next  how  you 
may  slay  the  suitors  in  your  halls,  whether  by  strata- 
gem or  open  force.  You  must  not  hold  to  childish 
ways,  because  you  are  no  longer  now  the  child  you 
were.  Have  you  not  heard  what  fame  royal  Orestes 
gained  with  all  mankind,  because  he  slew  the  slayer, 
wily  Aegisthus,  who  had  slain  his  famous  father  ? 
You  too,  my  friend,  —  for  certainly  I  find  you  fair 
and  tall,  —  be  strong,  that  men  hereafter  born  may 
speak  your  praise.  Now  I  will  go  to  my  swift  ship 
and  to  my  comrades,  who  greatly  chafe  at  waiting. 
Rely  upon  yourself.     Heed  what  I  say." 

Then  answered  her  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  Stran- 
ger, in  this  you  speak  with  kindness,  even  as  a  father 
to  a  son.  Never  shall  I  forget  it.  But  tarry  now, 
though  eager  for  your  journey.  Bathe,  and  refresh 
your  soul ;  then  glad  at  heart  turn  to  your  ship,  bear- 
ing a  gift  of  value,  very  beautiful,  to  be  to  you  a  keep- 
sake from  myself,  even  such  a  thing  as  dear  friends 
give  to  friends." 

Then  answered  him  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene  : 
"  Do  not  detain  me  longer  now,  when  I  am  anx- 
ious for  my  journey.  And  any  gift  your  heart  may 
bid  you  give,  give  when  I  come  again,  for  me  to  carry 
home.  Choose  one  exceeding  beautiful;  it  shall  be 
matched  in  the  exchange." 

Saying  this,  clear-eyed  Athene  passed  away,  even 
as  a  bird  —  a  sea-hawk  —  takes  its  flight.     Into  his 


1.321-352.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  11 

heart  she  had  brought  strength  and  courage,  turning 
his  thoughts  upon  his  father  more  even  than  before. 
As  he  marked  this  in  his  mind,  an  awe  came  on  his 
heart ;  he  knew  a  god  was  with  him.  Straightway  he 
sought  the  suitors,  godlike  himself. 

To  them  the  famous  bard  was  singing,  while  they 
in  silence  sat  and  listened.  He  sang  of  the  return  of 
the  Achaeans,  the  sad  return,  which  Pallas  Athene  had 
appointed  them  on  leaving  Troy. 

Now  from  her  upper  chamber,  there  heard  this  won- 
drous song  the  daughter  of  Icarius,  heedful  Penelope, 
and  she  descended  the  long  stairway  from  her  room, 
yet  not  alone  ;  two  damsels  followed  her.  And  when 
the  royal  lady  reached  the  suitors,  she  stood  beside  a 
column  of  the  strong-built  roof,  holding  before  her 
face  her  delicate  wimple,  the  while  a  faithful  damsel 
stood  upon  either  hand.  Then  bursting  into  tears, 
she  said  to  the  noble  bard : 

"  Phemius,  many  another  tale  you  know  to  charm 
mankind,  exploits  of  men  and  gods,  which  bards  make 
famous.  Sit  and  sing  one  of  these.  The  rest  drink 
wine  in  silence.  But  cease  this  song,  this  song  of 
woe,  which  harrows  evermore  the  soul  within  my 
breast;  because  on  me  has  fallen  grief  that  cannot 
be  forgotten.  So  dear  a  face  I  miss,  ever  remember- 
ing one  whose  fame  is  wide  through  Hellas  and  mid- 
Argos." 

Then  answered  her  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  My 
mother,  why  forbid  the  honored  bard  to  cheer  us  in 
whatever  way  his  mind  is  moved  ?  The  bards  are  not 
to  blame,  but  rather  Zeus,  who  gives  to  toiling  men 
even  as  he  wills  to  each.  And  for  the  bard,  there  is 
no  ground  for  censure  if  he  sings  the  Danaans'  cruel 
doom.     The  song  which  men  most  heartily  applaud  is 


12  THE    ODYSSEY.  [1.353-385. 

that  which  comes  the  newest  to  their  ears.  Then  let 
your  heart  and  soul  submit  to  listen  ;  for  not  Odys- 
seus only  lost  the  day  of  his  return  at  Troy,  but  many 
another  perished  also.  Nay,  seek  your  chamber  and 
attend  to  matters  of  your  own,  —  the  loom,  the  distaff, 
— and  bid  the  women  ply  their  tasks.  Words  are  for 
men,  for  all,  especially  for  me ;  for  power  within  this 
house  rests  here." 

Amazed,  she  turned  to  her  own  room  again,  for  the 
wise  saying  of  her  son  she  laid  to  heart.  And  coining 
to  the  upper  chamber  with  her  maids,  she  there  be- 
wailed Odysseus,  her  dear  husband,  till  on  her  lids 
clear-eyed  xlthene  caused  a  sweet  sleep  to  fall. 

But  the  suitors  broke  into  uproar  up  and  down  the 
dusky  hall.  Each  prayed  to  lie  beside  her.  But  thus 
discreet  Telemachus  began  to  speak :  "  You  suitors  of 
my  mother,  overweening  in  your  pride,  let  us  enjoy 
our  feast  and  have  no  brawling  now.  For  a  pleasant 
thing  it  is  to  hear  a  bard  like  this,  one  who  is  like  the 
gods  in  voice.  But  in  the  morning  let  us  all  take 
seats  in  the  assembly,  where  I  may  unreservedly  an- 
nounce my  wall  that  you  shall  quit  my  halls.  Seek 
other  tables  and  eat  what  is  your  own,  changing  from 
house  to  house !  Or  if  it  seems  to  you  more  profitable 
and  better  to  ruin  the  living  of  one  man  without 
amends,  go  wasting  on  !  But  I  will  call  upon  the 
gods  that  live  forever  and  pray  that  Zeus  may  grant 
deeds  of  requital.  Then  beyond  all  amends,  here  in 
this  house  you  shall  yourselves  be  ruined." 

He  spoke,  and  all  with  teeth  set  in  their  lips  mar- 
veled because  Telemachus  had  spoken  boldly.  Then 
said  Antinoiis,  Eupeithes'  son :  "  Telemachus,  surely 
the  gods  themselves  are  training  you  to  be  a  man  of 
lofty  tongue  and  a  bold  speaker.     But  may  the  son 


1.386-417.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  13 

of   Kronos  never  make  you  king  in  sea-girt  Ithaca, 
although  it  is  by  birth  your  heritage  !  " 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus :  "  Anti- 
nous,  will  you  feel  offense  at  what  I  say?  This  I 
would  gladly  take,  if  Zeus  would  grant  it.  Do  you 
suppose  the  kingship  is  the  worst  fate  in  the  world  ? 
Why,  it  is  no  bad  thing  to  be  a  king  !  Soon  the  house 
of  a  king  grows  rich  and  he  himself  is  honored  more. 
Still,  as  to  kings  of  the  Achaeans,  here  in  sea-girt 
Ithaca  are  many  others  young  and  old,  some  one  of 
whom  may  take  the  place,  since  royal  Odysseus  now  is 
dead.  But  I  myself  will  be  the  lord  of  our  own  house 
and  of  the  slaves  which  royal  Odysseus  won  for  me." 

Then  answered  him  Eurymachus,  the  son  of  Poly- 
bus  :  "  Telemachus,  in  the  gods'  lap  it  lies  to  say^y 
which  one  of  the  Achaeans  shall  be  king  in  sea-girt 
Ithaca.  Your  substance  may  you  keep  and  of  your 
house  be  lord  ;  may  the  man  never  come  who,  heedless 
of  your  will,  shall  strip  you  of  that  substance  while 
men  shall  dwell  in  Ithaca.  But,  good  sir,  I  would  ask 
about  this  stranger  —  whence  the  man  comes,  and  of 
what  land  he  calls  himself.  Where  are  his  kinsmen 
and  his  native  fields  ?  Does  he  bring  tidings  of  your 
father's  coming,  or  is  he  come  with  hope  of  his  own 
gains?  How  hastily  he  went!  Not  waiting  to  be 
known  !  And  yet  he  seemed  no  low-born  fellow  by 
the  face." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus :  "  Eury- 
machus, as  for  my  father's  coming,  that  is  at  an  end. 
Tidings  I  trust  no  longer,  let  them  come  whence 
they  may.  Nor  do  I  care  for  divinations,  such  as  my 
mother  seeks,  summoning  a  diviner  to  the  hall.  This 
stranger  is  my  father's  friend,  a  man  of  Taphos ; 
Mentes  he  calls  himself,  the  son  of  wise  Anchialus, 
and  he  is  lord  of  the  oar-loving  Taphians." 


14  THE   ODYSSEY.  [1.418-444- 

So  spoke  Telemaclras,  but  in  his  mind  lie  knew  the 
immortal  goddess.  Meanwhile  the  suitors  to  dancing 
and  the  gladsome  song  turned  merrily,  and  waited 
for  the  evening  to  come  on.  And  on  their  merriment 
dark  evening  came.  So  then,  desiring  rest,  they  each 
departed  homeward. 

But  Telemachus  himself,  where  on  the  beautiful 
court  his  chamber  was  built  high  upon  commanding 
ground-,  went  to  his  bed  with  many  doubts  in  mind. 
And  walking  by  his  side,  with  blazing  torch,  went 
faithful  Eurycleia,  daughter  of  Ops,  Peisenor's  son, 
whom  once  Laertes  purchased  with  his  substance  when 
she  was  but  a  girl,  and  paid  the  price  of  twenty  oxen. 
Her  equally  with  his  faithful  wife  he  honored  at  the 
palace,  but  he  never  sought  her  bed,  avoiding  a  wife's 
anger.  Now  she  it  was  who  bore  the  blazing  torch  be- 
side  Telemachus ;  for  she  of  all  the  handmaids  loved 
him  most  and  was  his  nurse  when  little.  He  opened 
the  doors  of  the  strong  chamber,  sat  down  upon  the 
bed,  pulled  his  soft  tunic  off,  and  laid  it  in  the  wise 
old  woman's  hands.  Folding  and  smoothing  out  the 
tunic,  she  hung  it  on  a  peg  beside  the  well-bored  bed- 
stead„then  left  the  chamber,  and  by  its  silver  ring 
pulled  to  the  door,  drawing  the  bolt  home  by  its  strap. 
So  there  Telemachus,  all  the  night  long,  wrapped  in 
a  fleece  of  wool,  pondered  in  mind  the  course  Athene 
counseled. 


II. 

THE  ASSEMBLY  AT  ITHACA  AND  THE  DEPARTURE 

OF  TELEMACHUS. 

Soon  as  the  early,  rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared,  the 
dear  son  of  Odysseus  rose  from  bed,  put  on  his  clothes, 
slung  his  sharp  sword  about  his  shoulder,  under  his 
shining1  feet  bound  his  fair  sandals,  and  came  forth 
from  his  chamber  in  bearing  like  a  god.  Straightway 
he  bade  the  clear-voiced  heralds  summon  to  an  as- 
sembly the  long-haired  Achaeans.  Those  summoned, 
and  these  gathered  very  quickly.  So  when  they  were 
assembled  and  all  had  come  together,  he  went  himself 
to  the  assembly,  holding  in  hand  a  brazen  spear,  — 
yet  not  alone,  two  swift  dogs  followed  after,  —  and 
marvelous  was  the  grace  Athene  cast  about  him,  that 
all  the  people  gazed  as  he  drew  near.  He  sat  down 
in  his  father's  seat ;  the  elders  made  him  way. 

The  first  to  speak  was  lord  Aegyptius,  a  man 
bowed  down  with  age,  who  knew  a  thousand  things. 
His  dear  son  Antiphus,  a  spearman,  had  gone  with 
god-like  Odysseus  in  the  hollow  ships  to  Ilios,  famed 
for  horses.  The  savage  Cyclops  killed  him  in  the 
deep  cave  and  on  him  made  a  supper  last  of  all.  Three 
other  sons  there  were  ;  one  joined  the  suitors,  —  Eu- 
rynomus  —  and  two  still  kept  their  father's  farm. 
Yet  not  because  of  these  did  he  forget  to  mourn  and 
miss  that  other.  With  tears  for  him,  he  thus  ad- 
dressed the  assembly,  saying : 


16  THE   ODYSSEY.  [11.25-55. 

"Hearken  now,  men  of  Ithaca,  to  what  I  say. 
Never  has  our  assembly  once  been  held,  no  single  ses- 
sion, since  royal  Odysseus  went  away  in  hollow  ships. 
Who  is  it  calls  us  now,  in  such  a  fashion  ?  Who  has 
such  urgent  need  ?  Young  or  old  is  he  ?  Has  he 
heard  tidings  of  the  army's  coming,  which  he  would 
plainly  tell  to  us  so  soon  as  lie  has  learned  ?  Or  has 
he  other  public  matter  to  announce  and  argue  ?  At 
any  rate,  good  seems  the  man  to  me  —  a  blessed  man. 
May  Zeus  accomplish  all  the  good  his  mind  intends  ! ' 

As  thus  he  spoke,  the  dear  son  of  Odysseus  rejoiced 
at  what  was  said  and  kept  his  seat  no  longer.  He 
burned  to  speak.  He  rose  up  in  the  midst  of  the  as- 
sembly, and  in  his  hand  a  herald  placed  the  sceptre,  — 
a  herald  named  Peisenor,  discreet  of  understanding. 
Then  turning  first  to  the  old  man,  he  thus  addressed 
him  : 

"  Sire,  not  far  off  is  he,  as  you  full  soon  shall  know, 
who  called  the  people  hither;  for  it  is  I  especially 
whom  grief  befalls.  No  tidings  of  the  army's  com- 
ing have  I  heard,  which  I  would  plainly  tell  to  you 
so  soon  as  I  have  learned  ;  nor  have  I  other  public 
matter  to  announce  and  argue.  Rather  it  is  my  pri- 
vate need,  ill  falling  on  my  house  in  twofold  wise. 
For  first  I  lost  my  noble  father,  who  was  formerly 
your  king,  — kind  father  as  e'er  was  — and  now  there 
comes  a  thing  more  grievous  still,  which  soon  will  ut- 
terly destroy  my  home  and  quite  cut  off  my  substance. 
Suitors  beset  my  mother  sorely  against  her  will,  sons 
of  the  very  men  who  are  the  leaders  here.  They 
shrink  from  going  to  the  house  of  Icarius,  her  father, 
to  let  him  count  the  bride-gifts  of  his  daughter  and 
give  her  then  to  whom  he  will,  whoever  meets  his 
favor ;  but  haunting  this  house  of  ours  day  after  day, 


11.56-87.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  17 

killing  our  oxen,  sheep,  and  fatted  goats,  they  hold 
high  revel,  drinking  sparkling  wine  with  little  heed. 
Much  goes  to  waste,  for  there  is  no  man  here  fit  like 
Odysseus  to  keep  damage  from  our  doors.  We  are 
not  fit  ourselves  to  guard  the  house  ;  attempting  it, 
we  should  be  pitiful,  unskilled  in  conflict.  Guard  it 
I  would,  if  only  strength  were  mine.  For  deeds  are 
done  not  to  be  longer  borne,  and  with  no  decency  my 
house  is  plundered.  Shame  you  should  feel  your- 
selves, and  some  respect  as  well  for  neighbors  living 
near  you,  and  awe  before  the  anger  of  the  gods,  lest 
haply  they  may  turn  upon  you,  vexed  with  your  evil 
courses.  Kay,  I  entreat  you  by  Olympian  Zeus,  and 
by  that  Justice  which  dissolves  and  gathers  men's 
assemblies,  forbear,  my  friends  !  Leave  me  to  pine  in 
bitter  grief  alone,  unless  indeed  my  father,  good  Odys- 
seus, ever  in  malice  wronged  the  mailed  Achaeans, 
and  in  return  for  that  you  now  with  malice  do  me 
wrong,  urging  these  people  on.  Better  for  me  it  were 
you  should  yourselves  devour  my  stores  and  herds.  If 
you  devoured  them,  perhaps  some  day  there  might  be 
payment  made  ;  for  we  would  constantly  pursue  you 
through  the  town,  demanding  back  our  substance  till 
all  should  be  restored.  Now,  woes  incurable  you  lay 
upon  my  heart." 

In  wrath  he  spoke,  and  dashed  the  sceptre  to  the 
ground,  letting  his  tears  burst  forth,  and  pity  fell  on 
all  the  people.  So  all  the  rest  were  silent ;  no  man 
dared  to  make  Telemachus  a  bitter  answer.  Antinoiis 
alone  made  answer,  saying  : 

"  Telemachus,  of  the  lofty  tongue  and  the  unbridled 
temper,  what  do  you  mean  by  putting  us  to  shame  ? 
On  us  you  would  be  glad  to  fasten  guilt.  I  tell  you 
the  Achaean  suitors  are  not  at  all  to  blame ;   your 


18  THE    ODYSSEY.  [11.88-119. 

mother  is  to  blame,  whose  craft  exceeds  all  women's. 
The  third  year  is  gone  by,  and  fast  the  fourth  is  going 
since  she  began  to  mock  the  hearts  in  our  Achaean 
breasts.  To  all  she  offers  hopes,  has  promises  for 
each,  and  sends  us  messages,  but  her  mind  has  a  dif- 
ferent purpose.  Here  is  the  last  pretext  she  cun- 
ningly devised.  Within  the  hall  she  set  up  a  great 
loom  and  went  to  weaving  ;  fine  was  the  web  and  very 
large  ;  and  then  to  us  said  she  :  '  Young  men  who  are 
my  suitors,  though  royal  Odysseus  now  is  dead,  for- 
bear to  urge  my  marriage  till  I  complete  this  robe,  — 
its  threads  must  not  be  wasted,  —  a  shroud  for  lord 
Laertes,  against  the  time  when  the  fell  doom  of  death 
that  lays  men  low  shall  overtake  him.  Achaean  wives 
about  the  land,  I  fear,  might  give  me  blame  if  he 
should  lie  without  a  shroud,  he  who  had  great  posses- 
sions.' Such  were  her  words,  and  our  high  hearts 
assented.  Then  in  the  daj'time  would  she  weave 
at  the  great  web,  but  in  the  night  unravel,  after  her 
torch  was  set.  Thus  for  three  years  she  hid  her  craft 
and  cheated  the  Achaeans.  But  when  the  fourth 
year  came,  as  time  rolled  on,  then  at  the  last  one  of 
her  maids,  who  knew  full' well,  confessed,  and  we  dis- 
covered her  unraveling  the  splendid  web  ;  so  then  she 
finished  it,  against  her  will,  perforce.  Therefore  to 
you  the  suitors  make  this  answer,  that  you  yourself 
may  understand  in  your  own  heart,  and  that  the 
Achaeans  all  may  understand.  Send  forth  your  mo- 
ther! Bid  her  to  marry  whomever  her  father  wills 
and  him  who  pleases  her  !  Or  will  she  weary  longer 
yet  the  sons  of  the  Achaeans,  mindful  at  heart  of  what 
Athene  largely  gave  her,  skill  in  fair  works,  a  noble 
mind,  and  such  a  craft  as  we  have  never  known  in 
those    of   old,    those    who  were  long  ago    fair-haired 


II.  120-151.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  19 

Achaean  women,  —  Tyro,  Alcmene,  and  crowned  My- 
cene,  —  no  one  of  whom  had  judgment  like  Penelope  ; 
and  yet,  in  truth,  in  this  she  judged  not  wisely.  For 
just  so  long  shall  men  devour  your  life  and  substance 
as  she  retains  the  mind  the  gods  put  in  her  breast  at 
preseut.  Great  fame  she  brings  herself,  but  brings 
on  you  the  loss  of  large  possessions  ;  for  we  will  never 
go  to  our  estates,  nor  elsewhere  either,  till  she  shall 
marry  an  Achaean  — whom  she  will." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus :  "  Anti- 
nous,  against  her  will  I  cannot  drive  from  home  the  one 
who  bore  me  and  who  brought  me  up.  My  father  is 
away,  —  alive  or  dead,  —  and  hard  it  were  to  pay  the 
heavy  charges  to  Icarius  which  I  ueeds  must,  if  of 
my  will  alone  I  send  my  mother  forth.  For  from  her 
father's  hand  I  shall  meet  ills,  and  Heaven  will  send 
me  more,  when  my  mother  calls  upon  the  dread  Aven- 
gers as  she  forsakes  the  house;  blame  too  will  fall 
upon  me  from  mankind.  Therefore  that  word  I  never 
will  pronounce  ;  and  if  your  hearts  chafe  at  your  foot- 
ing here,  then  quit  my  halls  !  Seek  other  tables  and 
eat  what  is  your  own,  changing  from  house  to  house  ! 
Or  if  it  seems  to  you  more  profitable  and  better  to 
ruin  the  living  of  one  man  without  amends,  go  wast- 
ing on !  But  I  will  call  upon  the  gods  that  live  for- 
ever and  pray  that  Zeus  may  grant  deeds  of  requital. 
Then  beyond  all  amends,  here  in  this  house  you 
shall  yourselves  be  ruined !  " 

So  spoke  Telemachus,  and  answering  him  far-seeing 
Zeus  sent  forth  a  pair  of  eagles,  flying  from  a  moun- 
tain peak  on  high.  These  for  a  time  moved  on  along 
the  wind,  close  by  each  other  and  with  outstretched 
wings ;  but  as  they  reached  the  middle  of  the  many- 
voiced  assembly,  wheeling  about  they  briskly  flapped 


20  THE   ODYSSEY.  [II.  152-184. 

their  wings,  glared  at  the  heads  of  all,  and  death  was 
in  their  eyes.  Then  with  their  claws  tearing  each 
other's  cheek  and  neck,  they  darted  to  the  right,  across 
the  town  and  houses.  Men  marveled  at  the  birds,  as 
they  beheld,  and  pondered  in  their  hearts  what  they 
might  mean.  And  to  the  rest  spoke  old  lord  Halither= 
ses,  the  son  of  Mastor ;  for  he  surpassed  all  people 
of  his  time  in  understanding  birds  and  telling  words 
of  fate.  He  with  good  will  addressed  them  thus, 
and  said : 

"  Hearken  now,  men  of  Ithaca,  to  what  I  say  ;  and 
to  the  suitors  especially  I  speak,  for  over  them  rolls  a 
great  wave  of  woe.  Odysseus  will  not  long  be  parted 
from  his  friends,  but  even  now  is  near,  sowing  the 
seeds  of  death  and  doom  for  all  men  here.  Ay,  and 
on  many  others  too  shall  sorrow  fall,  on  many  of  us 
who  live  in  far-seen  Ithaca !  But  long  ere  that,  let  us 
consider  how  to  check  these  men,  or  rather,  let  them 
check  themselves  ;  that  shall  be  soon  their  gain.  And 
not  as  inexpert  I  prophesy,  but  with  sure  knowledge. 
For  this  I  say :  all  has  come  true  which  I  declared 
that  day  the  Argive  host  took  ship  for  Ilios,  and  with 
them  also  wise  Cktysseus  went.  I  said  that  after  suf- 
fering much,  and  losing  all  his  men,  unknown  to  all, 
in  the  twentieth  year  he  should  come  home ;  and  now 
it  all  comes  true." 

Then  answered  him  Eurymachus,  the  son  of  Poly- 
bus  :  "  Well,  well,  old  man,  go  home  and  play  the 
prophet  to  your  children,  or  else  they  may  have  trouble 
in  the  days  to  come !  About  these  matters  I  can  pro- 
phesy much  better  than  yourself.  Plenty  of  birds  flit 
in  the  sunshine,  but  not  all  are  fateful.  As  for  Odys- 
seus, he  died  far  away ;  and  would  that  you  had  per- 
ished with  him  !     You  woidd  not  then  be  prating  so 


II.  185-217.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  21 

of  reading  signs,  nor  would  you,  when  Telemachus  is 
wroth,  thus  press  him  on,  looking  for  him  to  send  your 
house  some  gift.  But  this  I  tell  you,  and  it  shall  be 
done ;  if  you,  who  know  all  that  an  old  man  knows, 
delude  this  youth  with  talk  and  urge  him  on  to  anger, 
it  shall  be  in  the  first  place  all  the  worse  for  him,  and 
he  shall  accomplish  nothing  by  aid  of  people  here, 
while  on  yourself,  old  man,  we  will  inflict  a  fine  which 
it  will  grieve  you  to  the  soul  to  pay.  Bitter  indeed 
shall  be  your  sorrow.  And  to  Telemachus,  here  be- 
fore all,  I  give  this  warning.  Let  him  instruct  his 
mother  to  go  to  her  father's  house.  They  there  shall 
make  the  wedding  and  arrange  the  many  gifts  which 
should  accompany  a  well-loved  child ;  for  not,  I  think, 
till  then  will  the  sons  of  the  Achaeans  quit  their  rough 
courtship.  No  fear  have  we  of  any  man,  not  even  of 
Telemachus,  so  full  of  talk.  Nothing  we  care  for  au- 
guries which  you,  old  man,  idly  declare,  making  your- 
self the  more  detested.  So  now  again,  his  substance 
shall  be  miserably  devoured,  and  no  return  be  made, 
so  long  as  she  delays  the  Achaeans  with  her  marriage. 
Moreover,  waiting  here  day  after  day,  as  rivals  for 
her  charms,  we  will  not  seek  out  other  women  whom 
it  might  well  become  a  man  to  marry." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  Euryma- 
chus  and  all  you  other  lordly  suitors,  this  will  I  urge 
no  longer  ;  I  have  no  more  to  say  ;  for  now  the  gods 
and  all  the  Achaeans  understand.  But  give  me  a 
swift  ship  with  twenty  comrades,  to  help  me  make  a 
journey  up  and  down  the  sea  ;  for  I  will  go  to  Sparta 
and  to  sandy  Pylos,  to  learn  about  the  coming  home 
of  my  long-absent  father.  Perhaps  some  man  may  tell 
me,  or  I  may  catch  a  rumor  sent  from  Zeus,  which 
oftenest  carries  tidings.  •  If  I  shall  hear  my  father  is 


22  THE   ODYSSEY.  [11.218-249. 

alive  and  coming  home,  worn  as  I  am,  I  might  endure 
for  one  year  more.  But  if  I  hear  that  he  is  dead,  — 
no  longer  with  the  living,  —  I  will  at  once  return  to 
my  own  native  land,  and  pile  his  mound  and  pay  the 
funeral  rites,  full  many,  as  are  due,  and  I  will  give  my 
mother  to  a  husband." 

So  saying,  he  sat  down ;  and  up  rose  Mentor,  who 
was  the  friend  of  gallant  Odysseus.  On  going  with 
the  ships,  Odysseus  gave  him  charge  of  all  his  house, 
that  they  should  heed  their  elder  and  he  keep  all 
things  secure.  He  with  good  will  addressed  them  thus, 
and  said  : 

"  Hearken  now,  men  of  Ithaca,  to  what  I  say. 
Never  again  let  sceptred  king  in  all  sincerity  be 
kind  and  gentle,  nor  let  him  in  his  mind  heed  right- 
eousness. Let  him  instead  ever  be  stern,  and  work 
unrighteous  deeds;  since  none,  remembers  princely 
Odysseus  among  the  people  whom  he  ruled,  kind 
father  though  he  was.  Yet  I  make  no  complaint 
against  the  haughty  suitors  for  doing  deeds  of  vio- 
lence in  insolence  of  heart ;  for  they  at  hazard  of  their 
heads  thus  violently  devour  the  household  of  Odys- 
seus, saying  he  comes  no  more.  But  with  the  rest  of 
the  people  I  am  wroth,  because  you  all  sit  still,  and, 
uttering  not  a  word,  you  do  not  stop  the  suitors,  — 
they  so  few  and  you  so  many." 

Then  answered  him  Evenor's  son,  Leiocritus  :  "  In- 
fernal Mentor,  crazy  -witted,  what  do  you  mean  by 
urging  these  to  stop  us  ?  Hard  would  it  be,  for  many 
more  than  we,  to  fight  with  us  on  question  of  our  food ! 
Indeed,  should  Ithacan  Odysseus  come  himself  upon 
us  lordly  suitors  feasting  in  his  house,  and  be  resolved 
at  heart  to  drive  us  from  the  hall,  his  wife  would  have 
no  joy,  however  great  her  longing,  over  his  coming ; 


11.250-283.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  23 

but  here  he  should  meet  shameful  death,  fighting  with 
more  than  he.  You  spoke  unwisely  !  Come,  people, 
then,  turn  to  your  own  affairs !  For  this  youth  here, 
Mentor  shall  speed  his  voyage,  and  Halitherses  too, 
for  they  are  from  of  old  his  father's  friends  ;  but  I 
suspect  he  still  will  sit  about,  gather  his  news  in 
Ithaca,  and  never  make  the  voyage." 

He  spoke,  and  hastily  dissolved  the  assembly.  So 
they  dispersed,  each  to  his  house  ;  but  the  suitors 
sought  the  house  of  princely  Odysseus. 

Telemachus,  however,  walked  alone  along  the  shore, 
and,  washing  his  hands  in  the  foaming  water,  prayed 
to  Athene :  "  Hear  me,  thou  god  who  earnest  yester- 
day here  to  our  home,  and  badst  me  go  on  ship- 
board over  the  misty  sea  to  ask  about  the  coming 
home  of  my  long-absent  father.  All  thy  commands 
the  Achaeans  hinder,  the  suitors  most  of  all  in  wicked 
insolence." 

So  spoke  he  in  his  prayer,  and  near  him  came 
Athene,  likened  to  Mentor  in  her  form  and  voice,  and 
speaking  in  winged  words  she  said : 

"  Telemachus,  henceforth  you  shall  not  be  a  base 
man  nor  a  foolish,  if  in  you  stirs  the  brave  soul  of 
your  father,  and  you  like  him  can  give  effect  to  deed 
and  word.  Then  shall  this  voyage  not  be  vain  and 
ineffective.  But  if  you  are  no  son  of  him  and  of  Pe- 
nelope, then  am  I  hopeless  of  your  gaining  what  you 
seek.  Few  sons  are  like  their  fathers  ;  most  are  worse, 
few  better  than  the  father.  Yet  because  you  henceforth 
will  not  be  base  nor  foolish,  nor  has  the  wisdom  of 
Odysseus  wholly  failed  you,  therefore  there  is  a  hope 
you  will  one  day  accomplish  all.  Disregard,  then,  the 
thoughts  and  plans  of  the  mad  suitors,  for  they  are  in 
no  way  wise  or  upright  men.     Nothing  they  know  of 


24  THE   ODYSSEY.  [11.284-316. 

death  and  the  dark  doom  which  now  is  near,  so  that 
they  all  shall  perish  in  a  day.  But  for  yourself,  the 
journey  you  desire  shall  not  be  long  delayed.  So 
truly  am  I  your  father's  friend,  I  will  provide  you  a 
swift  ship  and  be  myself  your  comrade.  But  go  you 
to  the  palace,  mix  with  the  suitors,  and  prepare  the 
stores,  securing  all  in  vessels,  —  wine  in  jars,  and  bar- 
ley-meal, men's  marrow,  in  tight  skins,  —  while  I  about 
the  town  will  soon  collect  a  willing  crew.  The  ships 
are  many  in  sea-girt  Ithaca,  ships  new  and  old.  Of 
these  I  will  select  the  best,  and  quickly  making  ready 
we  will  sail  the  open  sea." 

So  spoke  Athene,  daughter  of  Zeus.  No  longer  then 
lingered  Teleinachus  when  he  heard  the  goddess  speak. 
He  hastened  to  the  house,  though  with  a  heavy  heart, 
and  at  the  palace  found  the  haughty  suitors  flaying 
goats  and  singeing  swine  within  the  court.  Antinoiis 
laughingly  came  forward  to  Telemachus,  and  holding 
him  by  the  hand  he  spoke,  and  thus  addressed  him : 

"  Telemachus,  of  the  lofty  tongue  and  the  unbridled 
temper,  do  not  again  grow  sore  in  heart  at  what  we  do 
or  say  !  No,  eat  and  drink  just  as  you  used  to  do. 
All  you  have  asked  of  course  the  Achaean s  will  pro- 
vide, —  the  ship  and  the  picked  crew,  —  to  help  you 
quickly  find  your  way  to  hallowed  Pylos,  seeking  for 
tidings  of  your  noble  father." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  Anti- 
noiis, it  is  not  possible  to  sit  at  table  quietly  with  you 
rude  men  and  calmly  take  my  ease.  Was  it  not  quite 
enough  that  in  the  days  gone  by  you  suitors  wasted 
much  good  property  of  mine,  while  I  was  still  a  help- 
less child  ?  But  now  that  I  am  grown  and  hear  and 
understand  what  people  say,  the  spirit  swells  within 
me,  and  I  will  try  to  bring  upon  your  heads  an  evil 


II.  317-348.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  25 

doom  whether  I  go  to  Pylos  or  remain  here  in  this 
land.  But  go  I  will  —  not  vain  shall  be  the  voyage 
of  which  I  speak  —  a  passenger  with  others,  since  I 
can  have  command  of  neither  ship  nor  crew.  And 
this  was  what  a  while  ago  you  judged  was  best." 

He  spoke,  and  from  the  hand  of  Antinoiis  quietly 
drew  his  own.  Meanwhile,  the  suitors  in  the  house 
were  busy  at  their  meal.  They  mocked  him,  jeering 
at  him  in  their  talk,  and  a  rude  youth  would  say : 

"  Really,  Telemachus  is  plotting  for  our  ruin  !  He 
will  bring  champions  from  sandy  Pylos ;  or  even  from 
Sparta,  so  deeply  is  he  stirred  ;  or  else  he  means  to  go 
to  Ephyra,  that  fruitful  land,  and  fetch  thence  deadly 
drugs  to  drop  into  our  wine-bowl  and  so  destroy  us 
all." 

Then  would  another  rude  youth  answer  thus  :  "  If 
he  goes  off  upon  a  hollow  ship  and  wanders  far  from 
friends,  who  knows  but  he  too  may  be  lost  just  as 
Odysseus  was  !  And  that  would  make  us  more  ado  ; 
for  all  his  goods  we  then  must  share,  and  to  his  mother 
give  the  house,  for  her  to  keep  —  her  and  the  man  who 
marries  her." 

So  ran  their  talk.  Meanwhile  Telemachus  passed 
down  the  house  into  his  father's  large  and  high-roofed 
chamber,  where  in  a  pile  lay  gold  and  bronze,  cloth- 
ing in  chests,  and  stores  of  fragrant  oil.  Great  jars 
of  old  delicious  wine  were  standing  there,  holding 
within  pure  liquor  fit  for  gods,  in  order  ranged  along 
the  wall,  in  case  Odysseus,  after  all  his  woes,  ever 
came  home  again.  Shut  were  the  folding-doors,  close- 
fitting,  double  ;  and  here  both  night  and  day  a  house- 
wife stayed,  who  in  her  watchful  wisdom  guarded  all 
—  Eurycleia,  daughter  of  Ops,  Peisenor's  son.  To 
her  now  spoke  Telemachus,  calling  her  to  the  room : 


26  THE   ODYSSEY.  [11.349-380. 

"  Good  nurse,  come  draw  me  wine  in  jars,  sweet 
wine  that  is  the  choicest  next  to  the  wine  you  keep, 
thinking  that  ill-starred  man  will  one  day  come  — 
high-born  Odysseus  —  safe  from  death  and  doom.  Fill 
twelve  and  fit  them  all  with  covers.  Then  pour  me 
barley  into  well-sewn  sacks.  Let  there  be  twenty 
measures  of  ground  barley-meal.  None  but  yourself 
must  know.  Get  all  together,  and  I  to-night  will 
fetch  them,  so  soon  as  my  mother  goes  to  her  cham- 
ber seeking  rest ;  for  I  am  going  to  S})arta  and  to 
sandy  Pylos,  to  try  to  learn  of  my  dear  father's 
coming." 

As  he  said  this,  his  dear  nurse  Eurycleia  cried  aloud 
and  sorrowfully  said  in  winged  words :  "  Ah,  my  dear 
child,  how  came  such  notions  in  your  mind?  Where 
will  you  go  through  the  wide  world,  our  only  one,  our 
darling !  High-born  Odysseus  is  already  dead,  far 
from  his  home  in  some  strange  land.  And  now  these 
men,  the  instant  you  are  gone,  will  plot  against  you 
harm,  that  you  by  stealth  may  be  cut  off,  and  they 
thus  share  with  one  another  all  things  here.  No,  stay 
you  here  at  ease  among  your  own  !  You  have  no 
need  to  suffer  hardship,  roaming  over  barren  seas." 

Then  answered  her  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  Cour- 
age, good  nurse  !  for  not  without  God's  warrant  is  my 
purpose.  But  swear  to  speak  no  word  of  this  to  my 
dear  mother  until  the  eleventh  or  twelfth  day  comes, 
or  until  she  shall  miss  me  and  hear  that  I  am  gone, 
that  so  she  may  not  stain  her  beautiful  face  with 
tears." 

Thus  did  he  speak,  and  the  old  woman  swore  by  the 
gods  a  solemn  oath.  Then  after  she  had  sworn  and 
ended  all  that  oath,  she  straightway  drew  him  wine 
in  jars,  and  poured  him  barley  into  well-sewn  sacks. 


11.381-411.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  27 

Telemachus,  meanwhile,  passed  to  the  house  and  joined 
the  suitors. 

Now  a  new  plan  the  goddess  formed,  clear-eyed 
Athene.  In  likeness  of  Telemachus,  she  went  through- 
out the  town,  and,  approaching  one  and  another  man, 
gave  them  the  word,  bidding  them  meet  by  the  swift 
ship  at  eventide.  Noemon  next,  the  gallant  son  of 
Phronius,  she  begged  for  a  swift  ship ;  and  this  he 
freely  promised. 

Now  the  sun  sank  and  all  the  ways  grew  dark. 
And  now  she  drew  the  swift  ship  to  the  sea  and  put 
in  all  the  gear  that  well-benched  vessels  carry ;  she 
moored  her  by  the  harbor's  mouth  ;  the  good  crew 
gathered  round  about,  and  the  goddess  gave  them 
zeal. 

Then  a  new  plan  the  goddess  formed,  clear-eyed 
Athene.  She  hastened  to  the  house  of  princely  Odys- 
seus, there  on  the  suitors  poured  sweet  sleep,  confused 
them  as  they  drank,  and  made  the  cups  fall  from  their 
hands.  They  hurried  off  to  rest  throughout  the  town, 
and  did  not  longer  tarry,  for  sleep  fell  on  their  eyelids. 
Then  to  Telemachus  spoke  clear-eyed  Athene,  calling 
him  forth  before  the  stately  hall,  likened  to  Mentor 
in  her  form  and  voice : 

"  Telemachus,  already  your  mailed  comrades  sit  at 
the  oar  and  wait  your  starting.  Come,  let  us  go,  and 
not  lose  time  upon  the  way." 

Saying  this,  Pallas  Athene  led  the  way  in  haste, 
and  he  walked  after  in  the  footsteps  of  the  goddess. 
But  when  they  came  to  the  ship  and  to  the  sea,  they 
found  upon  the  shore  their  long-haired  comrades,  to 
whom  thus  spoke  revered  Telemachus : 

"  Come,  friends,  and  let  us  fetch  the  stores  ;  all  are 
collected  at  the  hall.     My  mother  knows  of  nothing, 


28  THE    ODYSSEY.  [11.412-434. 

nor  do   the  handmaids  either.     One    alone   had  my 
orders." 

So  saying,  he  led  the  way,  the  others  followed  after ; 
and  bringing  all  the  stores  into  their  well-benched  ship 
they  stowed  them  there,  even  as  the  dear  son  of  Odys- 
seus ordered.  *  Then  came  Telemachns  aboard  ;  but 
Athene  led  the  way,  and  at  the  vessel's  stern  she  sat 
her  down,  while  close  at  hand  Telemachus  was  seated. 
The  others  loosed  the  cables,  and  coming  aboard  them- 
selves took  places  at  the  pins.  A  favorable  wind 
clear-eyed  Athene  sent,  a  brisk  west  wind  that  sang 
along  the  wine-dark  sea.  And  now  Telemachus,  in- 
spiriting his  men,  bade  them  lay  hold  upon  the  tac- 
kling, and  they  hearkened  to  his  call.  Raising  the  pine- 
wood  mast,  they  set  it  in  the  hollow  socket,  binding  it 
firm  with  forestays,  and  tightened  the  white  sail  with 
twisted  oxhide  thongs.  The  wind  swelled  out  the 
belly  of  the  sail,  and  round  the  stem  loudly  the  rip- 
pling water  roared  as  the  ship  started.  Onward  she 
sped,  forcing  a  passage  through  the  waves.  Making 
the  tackling  fast  throughout  the  swift  black  ship,  the 
men  brought  bowls  brimming  with  wine,  and  to  the 
gods,  that  never  die  and  never  have  been  born,  they 
poured  it  forth  —  chiefest  of  all  to  her,  the  clear-eyed 
child  of  Zeus.  So  through  the  night  and  early  dawn 
did  the  ship  cleave  her  way. 


III. 

AT   PYLOS. 

And  now  the  sun,  leaving*  the  beauteous  bay,  rose 
to  the  brazen  sky,  to  shine  for  the  immortals  and  for 
mortal  men  upon  the  fruitful  fields  ;  and  the  two  drew 
near  to  Pylos,  the  stately  citadel  of  Neleus.  The 
townsfolk  here  were  offering  a  sacrifice  upon  the  shore, 
slaying  black  bulls  to  the  dark-haired  Earth-shaker. 
Nine  groups  there  were,  five  hundred  men  in  each, 
and  nine  bulls  were  presented  for  each  group.  When 
the  inward  parts  were  tasted  and  the  thighs  were 
burning  to  the  god,  the  two  ran  swiftly  in,  hauled 
up  and  furled  their  trim  ship's  sail,  brought  her  to 
anchor,  and  came  forth  themselves.  So  from  the  ship 
came  forth  Telemachus,  but  Athene  led  the  way,  and 
thus  began  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene  : 

"  Telemachus,  no  shyness  now !  For  to  accomplish 
this  you  crossed  the  sea,  to  make  inquiry  for  your 
father  and  to  learn  where  he  lies  buried  and  what 
fate  he  met.  Go  then  straight  forward  to  the  horse- 
man Nestor,  and  let  us  know  what  is  the  wisdom  hid- 
den in  his  breast.  Beg  him  yourself  to  tell  the  very 
truth.  Falsehood  he  will  not  speak ;  truly  upright 
is  he." 

Then  answered  her  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  Mentor, 
how  can  I  go  ?  How  importune  him  ?  In  subtleties 
of  speech  I  am  not  practised.  Shyness  is  fitting  in  a 
youth  when  questioning  his  elders." 


30  THE    ODYSSEY.  [III.  25-55. 

Then  said  to  him  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene : 
"  Telemachus,  some  promptings  you  will  find  in  your 
own  breast,  and  Heaven  will  send  still  more  ;  for,  cer- 
tainly, not  un befriended  of  the  gods  have  you  been 
born  and  bred." 

Saying  this,  Pallas  Athene  led  the  way  in  haste,  and 
he  walked  after  in  the  footsteps  of  the  goddess.  So 
they  approached  the  gathering  of  the  men  of  Pylos 
and  the  group  where  Nestor  sat  among  his  sons. 
Round  him  his  people,  making  the  banquet  ready, 
were  roasting  meats  and  putting  pieces  on  the  spits. 
But  as  they  saw  the  strangers,  all  the  men  crowded 
near,  gave  hands  in  welcome,  and  asked  them  to  sit 
down  ;  and  Nestor's  son  Peisistratus,  approaching  first, 
took  each  one  by  the  hand  and  placed  them  at  the 
feast  on  some  soft  fleeces  laid  upon  the  sands,  beside 
his  brother  Thrasymedes  and  his  father.  He  gave 
them  portions  of  the  inward  parts,  poured  out  some 
wine  into  a  golden  cup,  and,  offering  welcome,  said  to 
Pallas  Athene,  daughter  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus  : 

"  Here,  stranger,  make  a  prayer  to  lord  Poseidon. 
It  is  his  feast  you  find  at  this  your  coming.  Then, 
after  you  have  poured  and  prayed  as  is  befitting,  give 
this  man  too  the  cup  of  honeyed  wine  for  him  to  pour ; 
for  I  suppose  he  also  prays  to  the  immortals.  All 
men  have  need  of  gods.  But  he  is  the  younger,  young 
as  I  myself;  so  I  will  give  you  first  the  golden 
chalice." 

Saying  this,  he  placed  the  cup  of  sweet  wine  in  her 
hand.  And  Athene  was  pleased  to  find  the  man  so 
wise  and  courteous,  pleased  that  he  gave  her  first  the 
golden  chalice.  Forthwith  she  prayed  a  fervent  prayer 
to  lord  Poseidon : 

"  Hearken,  Poseidon,  thou  girder  of  the  land,  and 


III.  56-86.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  31 

count  it  not  too  much  to  give  thy  suppliants  these 
blessings.  First  upon  Nestor  and  his  sons  bestow  all 
honor ;  then  to  the  rest  grant  gracious  recompense,  to 
all  the  men  of  Pylos,  for  their  splendid  sacrifice ;  and 
grant  still  farther  that  Telemachus  and  I  may  sail 
away  having  accomplished  that  for  which  we  came 
upon  our  swift  black  ship." 

Thus  did  she  pray,  and  was  herself  fulfilling  all.  To 
Telemachus  she  passed  the  goodly  double  cup,  and  in 
like  manner  also  prayed  the  dear  son  of  Odysseus. 
But  when  the  rest  had  roasted  the  outer  flesh  and 
drawn  it  off,  dividing  the  portions,  they  held  a  glori- 
ous feast.  And  after*  they  had  stayed  desire  for  drink 
and  food,  then  thus  began  the  Gerenian  horseman 
Nestor : 

"  Now,  then,  it  is  more  suitable  to  prove  our  guests 
and  ask  them  who  they  are,  since  they  are  refreshed 
with  food.  Strangers,  who  are  you  ?  Where  do  you 
come  from,  sailing  the  watery  ways?  Are  you  upon 
some  business  ?  Or  do  you  rove  at  random,  as  the 
pirates  roam  the  seas,  risking  their  lives  and  bringing 
ill  to  strangers  ?  " 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus,  plucking 
up  courage ;  for  Athene  herself  put  courage  in  his 
heart  to  ask  about  his  absent  father  and  to  win  a  £ood 
report  among  mankind : 

"  O  Nestor,  son  of  Neleus,  great  glory  of  the  Achae- 
ans,  you  ask  me  whence  we  are,  and  I  will  tell  you. 
We  are  of  Ithaca,  under  Mount  Neibn.  Our  busi- 
ness is  our  own,  no  public  thing,  as  I  will  show.  I 
come  afar  to  seek  some  tidings  of  my  father,  royal 
hardy  Odysseus,  who  once,  they  say,  fought  side  by 
side  with  you  and  sacked  the  Trojan  town.  For  as  to 
all  the  others  who  were  in  the  war  at  Troy  we  have 


32  THE    ODYSSEY.  [III.  87-119. 

already  learned  where  each  man  met  his  mournful 
death ;  but  this  man's  death  the  son  of  Kronos  left 
unknown.  No  one  can  surely  say  where  he  has  died ; 
whether  he  was  borne  down  on  land  by  foes,  or  on  the 
sea  among  the  waves  of  Amphi  trite.  Therefore  I 
now  come  hither  to  your  knees  to  ask  if  you  will  tell 
me  of  my  father's  mournful  death,  in  case  you  saw  it 
for  yourself  with  your  own  eyes,  or  from  some  other 
heard  the  story  of  his  wanderings ;  for  to  exceeding 
grief  his  mother  bore  him.  Use  no  mild  word  nor 
yield  to  pity  from  regard  for  me,  but  tell  me  fully  all 
you  chanced  to  see.  I  do  entreat  you,  if  ever  my 
father,  good  Odysseus,  in  word  or  deed  kept  covenant 
with  you  there  in  the  Trojan  land  where  you  Achae- 
ans  suffered,  be  mindful  of  it  now ;  tell  me  the  very 
truth." 

Then  answered  him  the  Gerenian  horseman  Nestor : 
"  Ah,  friend,  you  make  me  call  to  mind  the  pains  we 
bore  when  in  that  land,  untamed  in  spirit  as  we  sons 
of  the  Achaeans  were  —  all  we  endured  on  shipboard 
on  the  misty  sea,  coasting  for  plunder  where  Achilles 
led ;  and  all  our  fightings  round  the  stronghold  of 
King  Priam,  where  so  many  of  our  bravest  perished. 
There  warlike  Ajax  lies,  and  there  Achilles.  There 
too  Patroclus,  the  peer  of  gods  in  wisdom.  There  my 
own  son,  so  strong  and  gallant,  Antilochus,  exceeding 
swift  of  foot,  a  famous  fighter.  And  many  other  woes 
we  had,  added  to  these.  What  mortal  man  could 
count  them  ?  Nay,  should  you  tarry  five  or  six  years 
here  to  ask  what  woes  the  great  Achaeans  suffered, 
you  would  return  to  your  own  land,  wearied  ere  I 
could  tell. 

"  For  nine  years  long  we  plotted  their  destruction, 
busy  with  craft  of  every  kind ;   yet  still  the  son  of 


III.  120-152.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  33 

Kronos  hardly  brought  us  through.  With  one  man 
then  none  sought  to  vie  in  wisdom  ;  for  far  beyond 
us  all  in  craft  of  every  kind  was  royal  Odysseus,  your 
father,  —  if  you  are  indeed  his  child.  I  am  amazed 
to  see.  And  yet,  how  fitting  are  your  words !  One 
would  not  say  a  youth  could  speak  so  fitly.  There, 
all  that  while,  royal  Odysseus  and  I  never  once  dis- 
agreed in  the  assembly  or  the  council ;  but  with  one 
heart,  with  will  and  steadfast  purpose,  we  planned  how 
all  might  best  be  ordered  for  the  Argives. 

"  Yet  after  we  overthrew  the  lofty  town  of  Priam, 
when  we  went  away  in  ships  and  God  dispersed  the 
Achaeans,  ah,  then  Zeus  purposed  in  his  mind  a  sad 
voyage  for  the  Argives !  For  nowise  prudent  and  up- 
right were  all.  So,  many  a  one  came  to  an  evil  end, 
through  the  fell  wrath  of  the  dread  father's  clear-eyed 
child,  who  caused  a  strife  betwixt  the  sons  of  Atreus. 
For  these  two  summoned  to  an  assembly  all  the 
Achaeans,  in  haste,  not  in  due  order,  at  the  setting 
sun  ;  and  heavy  with  wine  the  young  Achaeans  came. 
Then  each  declared  the  reason  why  he  called  the  host 
together.  Now  Menelaus  exhorted  all  the  Achae- 
ans  to  turn  their  thoughts  toward  going  home  on  the 
broad  ocean-ridges ;  but  this  pleased  Agamemnon  not 
at  all.  He  wished  to  stay  the  host  and  offer  sacred 
hecatombs,  that  so  he  might  appease  the  dread  wrath 
of  Athene,  —  ah,  fool !  who  did  not  know  she  might 
not  be  persuaded  ;  for  a  purpose  is  not  lightly  changed 
in  o-ods  who  live  forever.  Thus  stood  the  brothers  ex- 
changing  bitter  words,  while  up  sprang  other  mailed 
Achaeans  in  wild  din  and  both  the  plans  found  favor. 
That  night  we  rested,  nursing  in  our  breasts  hard 
thoughts  of  one  another.  Zeus  was  preparing  us  the 
ill  that  comes  from  wrong.     At  dawn  we  dragged  our 


34  THE   ODYSSEY.  [III.  153-184. 

ships  into  the  sacred  sea,  and  put  therein  our  goods 
and  the  low-girdled  women.  Half  of  the  host  held 
back,  remaining  with  the  son  of  Atreus,  Agamemnon, 
the  shepherd  of  the  people ;  while  we,  the  other  half, 
embarked  and  sailed.  Swiftly  our  ships  ran  on  ;  God 
smoothed  the  billowy  deep.  Arrived  at  Tenedos,  we 
offered  sacrifices  to  the  gods,  as  homeward  bound ;  but 
Zeus  had  not  yet  willed  our  coming  home,  —  cruel !  to 
waken  bitter  strife  a  second  time.  Part  turned  their 
curved  ships  back  and  sailed  away  after  Odysseus,  keen 
and  crafty,  again  to  proffer  aid  to  Agamemnon,  son  of 
Atreus.  I,  with  the  company  of  ships  which  followed 
me,  pressed  onward,  for  I  knew  some  power  intended 
ill.  On  pressed  the  warlike  son  of  Tydeus,  too,  inspirit- 
ing his  men.  Later  upon  our  track  came  light-haired 
Menelaus,  who  overtook  us  while  at  Lesbos  we  debated 
on  the  long  sea  voyage,  doubtful  if  we  should  sail 
above  steep  Chios,  by  way  of  the  island  Psyria,  with 
Chios  on  our  left,  or  under  Chios  and  past  windy 
Mimas.  We  therefore  begged  of  God  to  show  some 
sign ;  and  he  made  plain  our  way,  bidding  us  cut  the 
centre  of  the  sea  straight  for  Euboea,  if  we  would 
soonest  flee  from  danger.  The  whistling;  wind  began 
to  blow,  and  swiftly  along  the  swarming  water  sped 
our  ships,  and  touched  at  night  Geraestus,  where  on 
Poseidon's  altar  we  laid  many  thighs  of  bulls,  thank- 
ful that  we  had  compassed  the  wide  sea.  It  was  the 
fourth  day  when  the  crews  of  Diomed  the  horseman, 
son  of  Tydeus,  moored  their  trim  ships  at  Argos.  I 
still  held  on  toward  Pylos,  nor  did  the  breeze  once  fall 
after  the  god  first  sent  it  forth  to  blow. 

"  And  thus  it  was  I  came,  dear  child,  bringing  no 
tidings ;  nothing  I  know  about  the  rest  of  the  Achae- 
an s,  which  were  saved  and  which  were  lost.     But  all 


III.  185-217.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  35 

that  I  have  learned  while  sitting*  here  at  home,  this, 
as  is  proper,  you  shall  know  ;  I  will  hide  nothing  from 
you.  Safely,  they  say,  returned  the  spearmen  of  the 
Myrmidons,  whom  the  proud  son  of  fierce  Achilles 
led ;  safely,  too,  Philoctetes,  the  gallant  son  of  Poias ; 
and  back  to  Crete  Idomeneus  brought  all  his  men,  — 
all  who  escaped  the  war,  the  sea  took  not  a  man. 
About  the  son  of  Atreus  you  yourselves  have  heard, 
though  you  live  far  away ;  how  he  returned,  and  how 
Aegisthus  plotted  his  mournful  death.  And  yet  a 
fearful  reckoning  Aegisthus  paid !  When  a  man 
dies,  how  good  it  is  to  leave  a  son  !  That  son  took 
vengeance  on  the  slayer,  wily  Aegisthus,  who  had 
slain  his  famous  father.  You  too,  my  friend,  —  for 
certainly  I  find  you  fair  and  tall,  —  be  strong,  that 
men  hereafter  born  may  speak  your  praise." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  O  Nes- 
tor, son  of  Neleus,  great  glory  of  the  Achaeans, 
stoutly  that  son  took  vengeance,  and  the  Achaeans 
shall  spread  his  fame  afar,  that  future  times  may 
know.  Oh,  that  to  me  as  well  the  gods  would  give 
the  power  to  pay  the  suitors  for  their  grievous  wrongs, 
for  they  with  insult  work  me  abominations  !  But  no 
such  boon  the  gods  bestowed  on  me  and  on  my  father. 
Now,  therefore,  all  must  simply  be  endured." 

Then  answered  him  the  Gerenian  horseman  Nestor: 
"  Friend,  —  since  you  turn  my  thoughts  that  way  by 
your  own  words,  —  they  say  that  many  suitors  of  your 
mother,  heedless  of  you,  work  evil  in  your  halls. 
Pray  tell  me,  do  you  willingly  submit,  or  are  the  peo- 
ple of  your  land  adverse  to  you,  led  by  some  voice 
of  God  ?  Who  knows  but  yet  Odysseus  may  return 
and  recompense  their  crimes,  either  alone,  or  all  the 
Achaeans  with  him  ?     Ah,  might  clear-eyed  Athene 


36  THE   ODYSSEY.  [III.  218-247. 

be  pleased  to  be  your  friend  as  formerly  she  aided 
great  Odysseus,  there  in  the  Trojan  land  where  we 
Achaeans  suffered  !  For  I  never  knew  the  gods  to 
show  such  open  friendship  as  Pallas  Athene  showed 
in  standing  by  Odysseus.  If  now  to  you  she  would 
be  such  a  friend  and  heartily  give  aid,  it  might  be 
some  of  these  men  here  would  cease  to  think  of  mar- 
riage." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  Nay, 
sire,  not  soon,  I  think,  will  words  like  these  come 
true.  Too  great  is  what  you  say  ;  I  am  astonished. 
Hope  what  I  might,  such  things  could  never  be,  not 
if  the  gods  should  will  them." 

Then  said  to  him  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene : 
"  Telemachus,  what  word  has  passed  the  barrier  of 
your  teeth  ?  Easily  may  a  god,  who  will,  bring  a  man 
safe  from  far.  But  I  myself  would  gladly  meet  a 
multitude  of  woes,  if  thus  I  might  go  home  and  see 
my  day  of  coming,  and  not  return  and  fall  beside 
my  hearth  as  Agamemnon  fell,  under  the  plottings  of 
his  own  wife  and  Aegisthus.  Yet  death,  the  common 
lot,  gods  have  no  power  to  turn  even  from  one  they 
love,  when  the  fell  doom  of  death  that  lays  men  low 
once  overtakes  him." 

Then  answered  her  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  Mentor, 
let  us  talk  of  this  no  more,  sad  as  we  are.  For  him  no 
real  return  can  ever  be  ;  long  time  ago  the  immortals 
fixed  his  death  and  his  dark  doom.  At  present  I 
would  trace  a  different  story  and  question  Nestor, 
since  beyond  all  men  else  he  knows  the  right  and  wise. 
Three  generations  of  mankind  they  say  that  he  has 
ruled,  and  as  I  now  behold  him  he  seems  like  an  im- 
mortal. O  Nestor,  son  of  Neleus,  relate  to  me  the 
truth !     How  did  the  son  of  Atreus  die,  wide-ruling 


III.  248-278.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  37 

Agamemnon  ?  And  where  was  Menelaus  ?  "What  was 
the  deadly  plot  wily  Aegisthus  laid  to  kill  a  man  much 
braver  than  himself?  Was  Menelaus  absent  from 
Achaean  Argos,  traveling  to  men  afar,  that  so  Aegis- 
thus, taking  courage,  did  the  murder  ?  " 

Then  answered  him  the  Gerenian  horseman  Nestor  : 
"  Well,  I  wTill  tell  you  all  the  truth,  my  child.  In- 
deed, you  yourself  guess  how  it  had  fallen  out  if  the 
son  of  Atreus,  light-haired  Menelaus,  had  found  Ae- 
gisthus living  in  the  palace  when  he  returned  from 
Troy.  Then  over  dead  Aegisthus,  men  had  heaped 
no  mound  of  earth,  but  dogs  and  birds  had  feasted  on 
him  where  he  lay  upon  the  plain  outside  the  town, 
and  no  Achaean  woman  had  made  lament  for  him ; 
for  monstrous  was  the  deed  he  wrought.  At  Troy  we 
tarried,  bringing  to  fulfillment  many  toils,  while  he,  at 
ease,  hidden  in  grazing  Argos,  strove  hard  to  win  the 
wife  of  Agamemnon  by  his  words.  At  first,  indeed, 
she  scorned  ill-doing,  this  royal  Clytaemnestra,  being 
of  upright  mind.  Moreover,  a  bard  was  with  her 
whom  the  son  of  Atreus  strictly  charged,  on  setting 
forth  for  Troy,  to  guard  his  wife.  But  when  at  last 
the  doom  of  gods  constrained  her  to  her  ruin,  then  did 
Aegisthus  take  the  bard  to  a  lone  island  and  leave 
him  there  the  prey  and  prize  of  birds,  while  her,  as 
willing  as  himself,  he  led  to  his  own  home.  And 
many  a  thigh-piece  did  he  burn  upon  the  sacred  altars 
of  the  gods,  and  many  an  offering  render,  woven  stuffs 
and  gold,  at  having  achieved  such  monstrous  deed  as 
in  his  heart  he  had  not  hoped. 

"  Now  as  we  came  from  Troy,  the  son  of  Atreus  and 
myself  set  sail  together  full  of  loving  thoughts  ;  but 
when  we  wrere  approaching  sacred  Sunion,  a  cape  of 
Athens,  Phoebus  Apollo  smote  the  helmsman  of  Me- 


38  THE   ODYSSEY.  [III.  279-312. 

nelaus  and  slew  him  with  his  gentle  arrows  while  he 
held  the  rudder  of  the  running  ship  within  his  hands. 
Phrontis  it  was,  Onetor's  son,  one  who  surpassed  all 
humankind  in  piloting  a  ship  when  winds  were  wild. 
So  Menelaus  tarried,  though  eager  for  his  journey,  to 
bury  his  companion  and  to  pay  the  funeral  rites.  But 
when  he  also,  sailing  in  his  hollow  ships  over  the  wine- 
dark  sea,  reached  in  his  course  the  steep  height  of 
Maleia,  from  that  point  on  far-seeing  Zeus  gave  him 
a  grievous  way.  He  poured  forth  blasts  of  whistling 
winds  and  swollen  waves  as  huge  as  mountains.  Di- 
viding the  ships,  he  brought  a  part  to  Crete,  where 
the  Cydonians  dwelt  around  the  streams  of  Iardanus. 
Here  is  a  cliff,  smooth  and  steep  toward  the  water,  at 
the  border  land  of  Gortyn,  on  the  misty  sea,  where 
the  south  wind  drives  in  the  heavy  waves  on  the  west- 
ern point  toward  Phaestus,  and  this  small  rock  holds 
back  the  heavy  waves.  Some  came  in  here,  and  the 
men  themselves  hardly  escaped  destruction ;  their 
ships  the  waves  crushed  on  the  ledges.  But  the  five 
other  dark-bowed  ships  wind  and  wave  bore  to  Egypt. 
So  Menelaus  gathered  there  much  substance  and 
much  gold,  coasting  about  on  ship-board  to  men  of 
alien  speech  ;  and  all  this  time  at  home  Aegisthus 
foully  plotted.  Seven  years  he  reigned  in  rich  My- 
cene  when  he  had  slain  the  son  of  Atreus.  The  peo- 
jole  were  held  down.  But  in  the  eighth  ill  came ;  for 
royal  Orestes  came  from  Athens  and  slew  the  slayer, 
wily  Aegisthus,  who  had  slain  his  famous  father. 
The  slaughter  done,  he  held  a  funeral  banquet  for  the 
Argives,  over  his  hateful  mother  and  spiritless  Aegis- 
thus, and  on  that  self-same  day  came  Menelaus,  good 
at  the  war-cry,  bringing  a  store  of  treasure,  all  the 
freight  his  ships  could  bear. 


III.  313-343.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  39 

"You  too,  dear  friend,  wander  not  long  and  far 
from  home,  leaving  your  wealth  behind  and  persons 
in  your  house  so  insolent  as  these  ;  for  they  may  swal- 
low all  your  wealth,  sharing  with  one  another,  while 
you  are  gone  a  fruitless  journey.  And  yet,  I  say,  go 
visit  Menelaus.  Indeed,  I  bid  you  go;  for  he  is  lately 
come  from  foreign  lands  and  from  those  nations 
whence  one  could  not  really  hope  to  come,  when  once 
the  storms  had  swept  him  off  into  so  vast  a  sea,  —  a 
sea  from  which  birds  travel  not  within  a  year,  so  vast 
it  is  and  fearful.  Go  then  at  once  with  your  own 
ship  and  crew,  or  if  you  like  by  land  ;  chariot  and 
horses  are  ready  for  you,  and  ready  too  my  sons  to 
be  your  guides  to  sacred  Lacedaemon,  where  lives 
light-haired  Menelaus.  Beg  him  yourself  to  tell  the 
very  truth.  Falsehood  he  will  not  speak ;  truly  up- 
right is  he." 

As  he  thus  spoke  the  sun  went  down  and  darkness 
came,  and  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene,  said  to 
them : 

"Sire,  certainly  these  words  of  yours  are  fitly 
spoken.  But  come,  cut  up  the  tongues  and  mix  the 
wine,  that  after  we  have  poured  libations  to  Poseidon 
and  the  rest  of  the  immortals  we  seek  our  rest,  since 
it  is  time  for  that.  For  now  the  day  has  turned  to 
dusk,  and  surely  it  is  not  well  to  tarry  long  at  the 
gods'  feast ;  rather  to  rise  and  go." 

So  spoke  the  daughter  of  Zeus  ;  and  they  hearkened 
to  her  saying.  Pages  poured  water  on  their  hands ; 
voting1  men  brimmed  bowls  with  drink  and  served  to 
all,  with  a  first  pious  portion  for  the  cup  ;  they  them- 
selves threw  the  tongues  into  the  flame  and,  rising, 
poured  libations.  So  after  they  had  poured  and  drunk 
as  their  hearts  would,  then  would  Athene  and  princely 


40  THE   ODYSSEY.  [III.  311-376. 

Telemachus  set  off  together  for  their  hollow  ship. 
But  Xestor  checked  them  and  rebuked  them,  say- 
ing : 

"  Zeus  and  the  other  immortal  gods  forbid  that  you 
should  leave  my  house  and  turn  to  a  swift  ship !  As 
if  I  were  a  man  quite  without  clothes  and  poor,  a  man 
who  had  not  robes  and  rugs  enough  at  home  for  him- 
self and  friends  to  sleep  in  comfort !  But  in  my 
house  are  goodly  robes  and  rugs.  And  never,  surely, 
shall  the  son  of  that  Odysseus  lie  on  ship's  deck  while 
I  am  living,  or  while  within  my  halls  children  remain 
to  entertain  such  guests  as  visit  house  of  mine." 

Then  said  to  him  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene  : 
"  Well  have  you  said  in  this,  kind  sir,  and  good  it 
were  Telemachus  should  heed,  for  it  is  far  more  seemly 
so.  Nay,  he  shall  now  attend  you  and  sleep  within 
your  halls.  But  as  for  me,  I  go  to  the  black  ship  to 
cheer  my  men  and  tell  their  duties,  for  I  am  the  only 
man  of  years  among  them  all ;  the  others,  younger 
men,  follow  me  out  of  friendship,  and  all  are  of  the 
age  of  bold  Telemachus.  There  would  I  lay  me  down 
by  the  black  hollow  ship  to-night ;  but  in  the  morn- 
ing I  will  go  to  the  bold  Cauconians  where  there  are 
debts  now  due  me,  not  recent  ones  nor  small.  As  for 
Telemachus  who  stays  with  you,  send  him  upon  his 
way  by  chariot  with  your  son,  and  give  him  horses 
that  have  swiftest  speed  and  best  endurance." 

Saying  this,  clear-eyed  Athene  passed  away,  in  like- 
ness of  an  osprey.  Awe  fell  on  all  who  saw.  The 
old  man  marveled  as  he  gazed,  grasped  by  the  hand 
Telemachus,  and  said  as  he  addressed  him  : 

"  Dear  friend,  you  will  not  prove,  I  trust,  a  base 
man,  lacking  spirit,  if  when  so  young  the  gods  be- 
come your  guides.     This  is  none   else  of  those  who 


III.  377-409.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  41 

have  their  dwelling  on  Olympus  than  the  daughter  of 
Zeus,  the  Plunderer,  Tritogeneia,  who  honored  your 
good  father  too  amongst  the  Argives.  Ah,  queen,  be 
gracious  and  vouchsafe  me  fair  renown,  —  me  and  my 
children  and  my  honored  wrife,  —  and  I  will  give  to 
thee  a  glossy  heifer,  broad  of  brow,  unbroken,  one  no 
man  ever  brought  beneath  the  yoke.  Her  I  will  give, 
tipping  her  horns  with  gold." 

So  spoke  he  in  his  prayer,  and  Pallas  Athene  heard. 
Then  the  Gerenian  horseman  Nestor  led  sons  and  sons- 
in-law  to  his  fair  palace.  And  they  on  reaching  the 
far-famed  palace  of  the  king,  took  seats  in  order 
on  couches  and  on  chairs  ;  and  the  old  man  mixed  at 
their  coming  a  vessel  of  sweet  wine,  which,  now  eleven 
years  old,  the  housewife  opened,  loosening  the  lid.  A 
bowl  of  this  the  old  man  mixed,  and  fervently  he 
prayed,  pouring  libation  to  Athene,  daughter  of  aegis- 
bearing  Zeus. 

Then  after  they  had  poured  and  drunk  as  their 
hearts  would,  desiring  rest,  they  each  departed  home- 
ward ;  but  in  the  house  itself  the  Gerenian  horseman 
Nestor  prepared  the  bed  of  Telemachus,  the  son  of 
princely  Odysseus,  upon  a  well-bored  bedstead  beneath 
the  echoing  portico.  By  him  he  placed  Peisistratus, 
that  sturdy  spearman,  one  ever  foremost,  he  who  was 
still  the  bachelor  among  the  sons  at  home.  But  Nestor 
slept  in  the  recess  of  the  high  hall;  his  wife,  the  Queen, 
making  her  bed  beside  him. 

Soon  as  the  early  rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared,  the 
Gerenian  horseman  Nestor  rose  from  bed,  and  coming 
forth  sat  down  on  the  smooth  stones  which  stood  be- 
fore his  lofty  gate,  white,  glistening  as  with  oil.  On 
them  in  former  days  Neleus  had  sat,  the  peer  of  gods 
in  wisdom  ;  but  long  ago  he  met  his  doom  and  went  to 


42  THE   ODYSSEY.  [III.  410-441. 

the  house  of  Hades,  and  now  Gerenian  Nestor  sat 
thereon,  as  warder  of  the  Achaeans,  holding  the  scep- 
tre. Round  him  his  sons  collected  in  a  group,  on  com- 
ing from  their  chambers,  —  Echephron  and  Stratius, 
Perseus,  Aretus,  and  gallant  Thrasymedes,  and  sixth 
and  last  came  lord  Peisistratus.  Then  they  led  for- 
ward godlike  Telemachus,  and  set  him  by  their  side, 
and  thus  began  the  Gerenian  horseman  Nestor : 

"  Hasten,  dear  children,  and  fulfill  my  vow ;  that 
first  of  all  the  gods  I  satisfy  Athene,  who  came  to  me 
in  open  presence  at  the  gods'  high  feast.  Go  one 
among  you  to  the  field  and  have  a  heifer  quickly 
brought,  and  let  the  neat-herd  drive  her  up.  One  go 
to  the  black  ship  of  bold  Telemachus,  and  bring  here 
all  his  crew.  Leave  only  two  behind.  Let  one  again 
summon  the  smith  Laerces  hither,  to  tip  with  gold  the 
heifer's  horns.  The  rest  of  you  stay  here  together. 
But  tell  the  maids  within  our  famous  palace  to  spread 
a  feast,  to  fetch  some  seats,  some  logs  of  wood,  and 
some  fresh  water." 

He  spoke  ;  away  went  all  in  breathless  haste.  And 
now  there  came  the  heifer  from  the  field ;  there  came 
from  the  swift  balanced  ship  the  crew  of  brave  Te- 
lemachus ;  there  came  the  smith,  with  his  smith's  tools 
in  hand,  his  implements  of  art,  anvil  and  hammer  and 
the  shapely  tongs,  with  which  he  works  the  gold  ; 
there  came  Athene,  too,  to  meet  the  sacrifice.  Then 
the  old  horseman  Nestor  furnished  gold,  and  so  that 
other  welded  it  round  the  heifer's  horns,  smoothing  it 
till  the  goddess  might  be  pleased  to  view  the  offering. 
Now  by  the  horns  Stratius  and  noble  Echephron  led 
up  the  heifer ;  Aretus  brought  lustral  water  in  a  flow- 
ered basin  from  the  store-room,  and  in  his  other  hand 
held  barley  in  a  basket ;  and  dauntless  Thrasymedes, 


III.  442-471.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  43 

a  sharp  axe  in  his  hand,  stood  by  to  fell  the  heifer, 
while  Perseus  held  the  blood -bowl.  Then  the  old 
horseman  Nestor  began  the  opening  rites,  of  washing- 
hands  and  sprinkling  meal.  And  fervently  he  prayed 
Athene  at  beginning,  casting  the  forelocks  in  the  fire. 

So  after  they  had  prayed  and  strewn  the  barley- 
meal,  forthwith  the  son  of  Nestor,  ardent  Thrasymedes, 
drew  near  and  dealt  the  blow.  The  axe  cut  through 
the  sinews  of  the  neck  and  broke  the  heifer's  power. 
A  cry  went  up  from  the  daughters  of  Nestor,  the  sons' 
wives,  and  his  own  honored  wife,  Eurydice,  the  eldest 
of  the  daughters  of  Clymenus.  The  sons  then  raised 
the  beast  up  from  the  trodden  earth  and  held  her  so, 
the  while  Peisistratus,  ever  the  foremost,  cut  the  throat. 
And  after  the  black  blood  had  flowed  and  life  had  left 
the  carcase,  they  straightway  laid  it  open,  quickly  cut 
out  the  thighs,  all  in  due  order,  wrapped  them  in  fat 
in  double  layers  and  placed  raw  flesh  thereon.  On 
billets  of  wood  the  old  man  burned  them,  and  poured 
upon  them  sparkling  wine,  while  young  men  by  his 
side  held  five-pronged  forks.  So  after  the  thighs 
were  burned  and  the  inward  parts  were  tasted,  they 
sliced  the  rest,  and  stuck  it  on  the  forks  and  roasted 
all,  holding  the  pointed  forks  in  hand. 

Meanwhile  to  Telemachus  fair  Polycaste  gave  a  bath, 
she  who  was  youngest  daughter  of  Nestor,  son  of  Ne- 
leus.  And  after  she  had  bathed  him  and  anointed 
him  with  oil  and  put  upon  him  a  goodly  robe  and 
tunic,  forth  from  the  bath  he  came,  in  bearing  like  the 
immortals ;  and  he  went  and  sat  by  Nestor,  the  shep- 
herd of  the  people. 

The  others,  too,  when  they  had  roasted  the  outer 
flesh  and  drawn  it  off,  sat  down  and  fell  to  feasting. 
Men  of  degree  attended  them,  pouring  the  wine  into 


44  THE    ODYSSEY.  [III.  472-497. 

their  golden  cups.  So  after  they  had  stayed  desire 
for  drink  and  food,  then  thus  began  the  Gerenian 
horseman  Nestor  :  "  My  sons,  go  fetch  the  full-maned 
horses  for  Telemachus  and  yoke  them  to  the  car,  that 
he  may  make  his  journey." 

So  he  spoke,  and  willingly  they  heeded  and  obeyed. 
Quickly  they  harnessed  the  swift  horses  to  the  car. 
The  housewife  put  in  bread  and  wine  and  dainties, 
such  things  as  heaven-descended  princes  eat.  And 
now  Telemachus  mounted  the  goodly  chariot,  and 
Nestor's  son  Peisistratus,  ever  the  foremost,  mounted 
the  chariot  too,  and  took  the  reins  in  hand.  He 
cracked  the  whip  to  start,  and  not  unwillingly  the  pair 
flew  off  into  the  plain,  left  the  steep  citadel  of  Pylos, 
and  all  day  long  they  shook  the  yoke  they  bore  be- 
tween them. 

Now  the  sun  sank  and  all  the  ways  grew  dark,  and 
the  men  arrived  at  Pherae,  before  the  house  of  Diocles, 
the  son  of  Orsilochus,  whose  father  was  Alpheius. 
There  for  the  night  they  rested  ;  he  gave  them  enter- 
tainment. 

Then  as  the  early  rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared, 
they  harnessed  the  horses,  mounted  the  gay  chariot, 
and  off  they  drove  from  porch  and  echoing  portico. 
Peisistratus  cracked  the  whip  to  start,  and  not  unwil- 
lingly the  pair  flew  off.  So  into  the  plain  they  came 
where  grew  the  grain  ;  and  through  this,  by  and  by, 
they  reached  their  journey's  ending.  So  fast  their 
horses  sped  them.  Then  the  sun  sank  and  all  the 
ways  grew  dark. 


IV. 

AT   LACEDAEMON. 

Into  the  low  land  now  they  came  of  caverned  Lace- 
daemon  and  drove  to  the  palace  of  famous  Menelaus. 
They  found  him  holding  a  wedding  feast  for  all  his  kin 
in  honor  of  the  son  and  gentle  daughter  of  his  house. 
To  the  son  of  Achilles,  that  breaker  of  men's  ranks, 
he  gave  his  daughter ;  for  long  ago,  at  Troy,  he 
pledged  himself  to  give  her,  and  now  the  gods  brought 
round  their  wedding.  Accordingly  to-day  with  horses 
and  with  chariots  he  sent  her  forth  to  the  famed  city 
of  the  Myrmidons,  whose  king  her  bridegroom  was. 
Then  for  his  son  he  took  to  wife  Alector's  daughter 
out  of  Sparta,  his  son  being  now  full  grown,  strong 
Megapenthes,  the  child  of  a  slave  mother.  The  gods 
gave  Helen  no  more  issue  after  she  in  the  early  time 
had  borne  her  lovely  child,  Hermione,  who  had  the 
grace  of  golden  Aphrodite. 

Thus  at  the  feast  in  the  great  high-roofed  house, 
neighbors  and  kinsmen  of  famous  Menelaus  sat  and 
made  merry.  Among  them  sang  the  sacred  bard  and 
touched  his  lyre;  a  pair  of  dancers  went  whirling 
down  the  middle  as  he  began  the  song. 

Now  at  the  palace  gate  two  youths  and  their  horses 
stopped,  princely  Telemachus  and  the  proud  son  of 
Nestor.  Great  Eteoneus  came  forth  and  saw  them, 
—  he  was  a  busy  squire  of  famous  Menelaus,  —  and 
hastened  through  the  hall  to  tell  the  shepherd  of  the 


46  THE    ODYSSEY.  [IV.  25-55. 

people,  and  standing  close  beside  him  he  said  in 
winded  words  : 

"  Here  are  two  strangers,  heaven-descended  Mene- 
lans,  and  they  are  like  the  seed  of  mighty  Zeus.  Say, 
shall  we  unharness  their  swift  horses,  or  shall  we  send 
them  forth  for  some  one  else  to  entertain  ? ' 

Then,  deeply  moved,  said  light-haired  Menelaus : 
"  You  were  no  fool,  Boethoiis'  son,  Eteoneus,  before 
this  time,  but  now  you  chatter  folly  like  a  child  !  Only 
because  as  guests  wre  often  had  our  food  of  strangers, 
are  wre  here ;  and  we  must  look  to  Zeus  henceforth  to 
keep  us  safe  from  harm.  No  !  take  the  harness  from 
the  strangers'  horses  and  brins;  the  men  themselves 
wdthin  to  share  our  feast." 

He  spoke,  and  Eteoneus  hastened  along  the  hall 
and  called  on  other  busy  squires  to  follow.  They 
took  the  sweating  horses  from  the  yoke,  tied  them 
securely  at  the  mangers,  threw  them  some  corn  and 
mixed  therewith  white  barley,  then  tipped  the  chariot 
up  against  the  bright  face-wall,  and  brought  the  men 
into  the  lordly  house.  And  they,  beholding,  marveled 
at  the  dwelling  of  the  heaven-descended  king  ;  for  a 
sheen  as  of  the  sun  or  moon  played  through  the  high- 
roofed  house  of  famous  Menelaus.  Now  after  they 
had  satisfied  their  eyes  with  gazing,  they  went  to  the 
polished  baths  and  bathed.  And  when  the  maids  had 
bathed  them  and  anointed  them  with  oil,  and  put 
upon  them  fleecy  coats  and  tunics,  they  took  their 
seats  by  Menelaus,  son  of  Atreus.  And  water  for 
the  hands  a  servant  brought  in  a  beautiful  pitcher 
made  of  gold,  and  poured  it  out  over  a  silver  basin 
for  their  washing,  and  spread  a  polished  table  by 
their  side.  Then  the  grave  housekeeper  brought 
bread  and  placed  before   them,  setting  out  food  of 


IV.  56-88.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  47 

many  a  kind,  freely  giving  of  her  store.  The  carver, 
too,  took  platters  of  meat  and  placed  before  them, 
meat  of  all  kinds,  and  set  their  golden  goblets  ready. 
And  greeting  the  pair  said  light-haired  Menelaus  : 

"  Break  bread,  and  have  good  cheer  !  and  by  and 
by  when  yon  have  eaten,  we  will  ask  what  men  you 
are.  Surely  the  parent  line  suffers  no  loss  in  you  : 
but  you  are  of  some  line  of  heaven-descended  sceptred 
kings.     For  common  men  have  no  such  children." 

So  saying,  he  set  before  them  fat  slices  of  a  chine 
of  beef,  taking  up  in  his  hands  the  roasted  flesh 
which  had  been  placed  before  him  as  the  piece  of 
honor  ;  and  on  the  food  spread  out  before  them  they 
laid  hands.  But  after  they  had  stayed  desire  for 
drink  and  food,  Telemachus  said  to  Nestor's  son,  — 
his  head  bent  close,  that  others  might  not  hear  : 

"  O  son  of  Nestor,  my  heart's  delight,  notice  the 
blaze  of  bronze  throughout  the  echoing  halls,  the  gold, 
the  amber,  silver,  and  ivory !  The  court  of  Olympian 
Zeus  within  must  be  like  this.  What  untold  wealth 
is  here  !     I  am  amazed  to  see." 

What  he  was  saying  light-haired  Menelaus  over- 
heard, and  speaking  in  winged  words  he  said  :  "  Dear 
children,  no !  No  mortal  man  could  vie  with  Zeus ; 
eternal  are  his  halls  and  his  possessions  ;  but  one  of 
humankind  to  vie  with  me  in  wealth  there  may  or 
may  not  be.  Through  many  woes  and  wanderings  I 
brought  it  in  my  ships,  and  I  was  eight  years  on  the 
way.  Cyprus,  Phoenicia,  Egypt,  I  wandered  over  ;  I 
came  to  the  Ethiopians,  Sidonians,  and  Erembians, 
and  into  Libya,  where  the  lambs  are  full-horned  at 
their  birth.  Three  times  a  year  the  flocks  bear  young. 
No  prince  or  peasant  there  lacks  cheese,  meat,  or 
sweet  milk,  but  the  ewes  always  give  their  milk  the 


48  THE    ODYSSEY.  [IV.  89-120. 

whole  year  round.  While  I  was  gathering  there- 
abouts much  wealth  and  wandering  on,  a  stranger 
slew  my  brother  while  off  his  guard,  by  stealth,  and 
through  the  craft  of  his  accursed  wife.  Here  too 
I  have  no  joy  as  lord  of  my  possessions.  But  from 
your  fathers  you  will  have  heard  that  tale,  whoever 
they  may  be ;  for  great  was  my  affliction,  and  deso- 
late my  house  which  once  stood  fair  and  stored  with 
many  blessings.  Would  I  were  here  at  home  with  but 
the  third  part  of  my  wealth,  and  they  were  safe  to-day 
who  fell  on  the  plain  of  Troy,  far  off  from  grazing 
Argos  !  But  no  !  and  for  them  all  I  often  grieve  and 
mourn  when  sitting  in  my  halls.  Now  with  a  sigh  I 
ease  my  heart,  then  check  myself ;  soon  comes  a  sur- 
feit of  benumbing  sorrow.  Yet  in  my  grief  it  is  not 
all  I  so  much  mourn  as  one  alone,  who  makes  me 
loathe  my  sleep  and  food  when  I  remember  him ;  for 
no  Achaean  met  the  contests  that  Odysseus  met  and 
won.  And  still  on  him  it  was  appointed  woe  should 
fall,  and  upon  me  a  ceaseless  pain  because  of  him ; 
so  long  he  tarries,  whether  alive  or  dead  we  do  not 
know.  For  him  now  mourn  the  old  Laertes,  steadfast 
Penelope,  and  Telemachus,  whom  he  left  at  home  a 
new-born  child." 

So  he  spoke,  and  stirred  in  Telemachus  yearnings 
to  mourn  his  father.  Tears  from  his  eyelids  dropped 
upon  the  ground  when  he  heard  his  father's  name, 
and  he  held  with  both  his  hands  his  purple  cloak  be- 
fore his  eyes.  This  Menelaus  noticed,  and  hesitated 
in  his  mind  and  heart  whether  to  leave  him  to  make 
mention  of  his  father  or  first  to  question  him  and 
prove  him  through  and  through. 

While  he  thus  doubted  in  his  mind  and  heart,  forth 
from  her  fragrant  high-roofed  chamber  Helen  came, 


IV.  121-155.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  49 

like  golden-shafted  Artemis.  For  her,  Adraste  placed 
a  carven  chair  ;  Alcippe  brought  a  covering  of  soft 
wool,  and  Phylo  a  silver  basket  which  Alcandra  gave, 
the  wife  of  Polybus,  who  lived  at  Thebes  in  Egypt, 
where  abundant  wealth  is  in  the  houses.  He  gave  to 
Menelaus  two  silver  bath-tubs,  a  pair  of  kettles,  and 
ten  talents  of  gold.  And  then,  besides,  his  wife  gave 
Helen  beautiful  gifts ;  she  gave  a  golden  distaff  and  a 
basket  upon  rollers,  fashioned  of  silver,  and  its  rim 
finished  with  gold.  This  her  attendant  Phylo  now 
brought  and  set  beside  her,  filled  with  a  fine-spun 
yarn ;  across  it  lay  the  distaff,  charged  with  dark  wool. 
Seated  upon  her  chair,  —  upon  whose  lower  part  there 
was  a  rest  for  feet,  —  she  straightway  questioned  thus 
her  husband  closely  : 

"Do  we  know,  heaven  -  descended  Menelaus,  who 
these  men  here  assert  themselves  to  be  ?  Shall  I  dis- 
guise my  thought  or  speak  it  plainly  ?  My  heart  bids 
speak.  None  have  I  ever  seen,  I  think,  so  like  another 
—  no  man,  no  woman ;  amazed  am  I  to  see !  —  as 
this  man  here  is  like  the  son  of  brave  Odysseus,  even 
like  Telemachus,  whom  his  father  left  at  home  a  new- 
born child,  when  you  Achaeans,  for  the  sake  of  worth- 
less me,  came  under  the  walls  of  Troy,  eager  for  val- 
orous fighting." 

Then,  answering  her,  said  light-haired  Menelaus: 
"  Now  I  too  note  it,  wife,  even  as  you  suggest ;  such 
were  Odysseus'  feet  and  hands,  his  turn  of  eye,  his 
head,  and  hair  above.  And  even  now,  as  I  began  to 
call  to  mind  Odysseus  and  to  tell  what  grievous  toils 
he  bore  in  my  behalf,  this  youth  let  fall  a  bitter  tear 
from  under  his  brows  and  held  his  purple  cloak  be- 
fore his  eyes." 

Then  Nestor's  son,  Peisistratus,  made  answer :    "  O 


50  THE    ODYSSEY.  [IV.  156-187. 

son  of  Atreus,  heaven-descended  Menelans,  leader  of 
hosts,  this  is  in  truth  his  son,  as  you  have  said  ;  but  he 
is  modest  and  too  bashful  in  his  heart  to  make  display 
of  talk  on  his  first  coming*  here,  before  you  too,  whose 
voice  we  both  enjoy  as  if  it  were  a  god's.  The  Gerenian 
horseman,  Nestor,  sent  me  forth  to  be  his  guide ;  for 
he  desired  to  see  you,  hoping  that  you  might  give  him 
aid  by  word  or  deed.  Ah,  many  a  grief  the  son  of  an 
absent  father  meets  at  home,  when  other  helpers  are 
not  by.  So  with  Telemachus ;  the  one  is  gone,  and 
others  there  are  none  throughout  the  land  to  ward  off 
ill." 

Then,  answering  him,  said  light  -  haired  Menelaus  : 
"  What !  Is  there  then  within  my  house  the  son  of 
one  so  dear,  one  who  for  me  bore  many  a  conflict !  I 
used  to  say  I  should  rejoice  over  his  coming  home  far 
more  than  over  that  of  all  the  other  Argives,  if  through 
the  seas  Olympian  far-seeing  Zeus  let  our  swift  ships 
find  passage.  In  Argos  I  would  have  granted  him  a 
city,  and  would  here  have  built  his  house,  and  I  would 
have  brought  him  out  of  Ithaca,  —  him  and  his  goods, 
his  child,  and  all  his  people,  —  clearing  its  dwellers 
from  some  single  city  that  lies  within  my  neighbor- 
hood and  owns  me  as  its  lord.  So  living  here  we  had 
been  much  together ;  and  nothing  further  could  have 
parted  then  our  jo}Tous  friendship  till  death's  dark 
cloud  closed  round.  But  God  himself  must  have  been 
envious  of  a  life  like  this,  and  made  that  hapless  man 
alone  to  fail  of  coming." 

So  he  spoke,  and  stirred  in  all  a  yearning  after  tears. 
Then  Argive  Helen  wept,  the  child  of  Zeus ;  Telema- 
chus too  wept,  and  Menelaus,  son  of  Atreus  ;  nor  yet 
did  Nestor's  son  keep  his  eyes  tearless.  For  in  his 
mind  he  mused  on  good  Antilochus,  whom  the  illus- 


IV.  188-220.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  53 


n 


rious  son  of  the  bright  dawn  had  slain.    Remembering 
whom,  he  spoke  in  winged  words  : 

"  O  son  of  Atreus,  that  you  were  wise  beyond  the 
wont  of  men  old  Nestor  used  to  say,  when  we  would 
mention  you  at  home,  talking  with  one  another.  And 
now  if  it  is  well,  give  heed  to  me ;  for  after  a  feast 
I  do  not  like  to  sit  and  grieve.  There  is  to-mor- 
row. Not  that  I  think  it  ill  to  weep  for  one  who 
dies,  when  he  has  met  his  doom.  It  is  the  only  honor 
sorrowing  men  can  pay,  to  cut  the  hair  and  let  the  tear 
fall  down  the  cheek.  A  brother  of  mine  once  died,  one 
not  the  meanest  of  the  Argives.  You  must  have 
known  him.  I  never  myself  looked  on  his  face  and 
never  knew  him  ;  but  Antilochus,  they  say,  was  very 
swift  of  foot,  a  famous  fighter." 

Then  answering  him  said  light-haired  Menelaus : 
"  Friend,  you  have  said  just  what  a  man  of  understand- 
ing might  say  and  even  do,  were  he  indeed  your  elder  ; 
for  sprung  from  such  a  father  you  too  talk  with  un- 
derstanding. Easily  is  his  offspring  known  to  whom 
the  son  of  Kronos  allots  a  boon  in  birth  and  marriage. 
And  thus  has  he  blessed  Nestor  continually,  all  his 
days,  granting  him  hale  old  age  at  home  and  children 
who  are  youths  of  wisdom,  mighty  with  the  spear. 
Let  us  then  check  the  lamentation  which  arose  a  while 
ago  and  turn  once  more  to  feasting.  Let  them  pour 
water  on  our  hands.  Again,  to-morrow,  for  Telema- 
chus  and  me  there  will  be  tales  to  tell." 

He  spoke,  and  Asphalion  poured  water  on  their 
hands, — he  was  a  busy  squire  of  famous  Menelaus, 
—  then  on  the  food  spread  out  before  them  they  laid 
hands. 

Now  elsewhere  Helen  turned  her  thoughts,  the  child 
of  Zeus.     Straightway  she  cast  into  the  wine  of  which 


52  THE   ODYSSEY.  [IV.  221-251. 

they  drank  a  drug  which  quenches  pain  and  strife  anct 
brings  forgetfulness  of  every  ill.  He  who  should  taste 
it,  mingled  in  the  bowl,  would  not  that  day  let  tears 
fall  down  his  cheeks  although  his  mother  and  his 
father  died,  although  before  his  door  a  brother  or  dear 
son  fell  by  the  sword  and  his  own  eyes  beheld.  Such 
cunning  drugs  had  the  daughter  of  Zeus,  drugs  of  a 
healing  virtue,  which  Polydamna  gave,  the  wife  of 
Thon,  in  Egypt,  where  the  fruitful  soil  yields  drugs  of 
every  kind,  some  that  when  mixed  are  healing,  others 
deadly.  There  every  one  is  a  physician,  skillful  be- 
yond all  humankind  ;  for  they  are  of  the  race  of 
Paeon.  So  after  she  had  cast  the  drug  into  the  bowl 
and  bidden  pour,  then  once  more  taking  up  the  word, 
she  said : 

"  Heaven-descended  son  of  Atreus,  Menelaus,  and 
you  too,  you  sons  of  worthy  men,  though  Zeus  to  one 
in  one  way,  to  another  in  another,  distributes  good 
and  ill  and  is  almighty,  yet  for  the  present  sit  and 
feast  within  the  hall  and  cheer  yourselves  with  tales. 
One  fitting  well  the  time  I  will  relate.  Fully  I  can- 
not tell,  nor  even  name  the  many  feats  of  hardy 
Odysseus.  But  this  is  the  sort  of  deed  that  brave 
man  did  and  dared  there  in  the  Trojan  land  where 
you  Achaeans  suffered.  Marring  himself  with  cruel 
blows,  casting  a  wretched  garment  round  his  shoul- 
ders, and  looking  like  a  slave,  he  entered  the  wide- 
wayed  city  of  his  foes  ;  and  other  than  his  own  true 
self  he  made  himself  appear  in  this  disguise,  even  like 
a  beggar,  far  as  he  was  from  such  an  one  at  the 
Achaean  ships.  In  such  a  guise,  he  entered  the  Tro- 
jans' town  ;  they  took  no  notice,  one  and  all ;  I  alone 
knew  him  for  the  man  he  was  and  questioned  him. 
He  shrewdly  tried  to  foil  me.    But  after  I  had  bathed 


IV.  252-285.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  53 

him  and  anointed  him  with  oil  and  given  him  cloth- 
ing", when  I  had  sworn  a  solemn  oath  not  to  make 
known  Odysseus  to  the  Trojans  till  he  should  reach 
the  swift  ships  and  the  huts  of  the  Achaeans,  then  he 
described  the  whole  Achaean  plot.  So,  slaying  many 
Trojans  with  his  trenchant  sword,  he  went  off  to  the 
Argives  and  carried  back  much  knowledge.  Thereat 
the  other  Trojan  women  raised  a  loud  lament.  My 
soul  was  glad ;  for  my  heart  already  turned  toward 
going  home  again,  and  I  would  mourn  the  blindness 
Aphrodite  brought  when  she  lured  me  thither  from 
my  native  land  and  bade  me  leave  my  daughter,  my 
chamber,  and  my  husband,  —  a  man  who  lacked  for 
nothing,  either  in  mind  or  person." 

Then,  answering  her,  said  light-haired  Menelaus : 
"  Yes,  all  your  tale,  my  wife,  is  told  right  well.  I 
have  in  days  gone  by  tested  the  wisdom  and  the  will 
of  many  heroes,  and  I  have  traveled  over  many 
lands  ;  but  never  have  I  beheld  a  soul  so  true  as 
hardy  Odysseus.  This  also  is  the  sort  of  deed  that 
brave  man  did  and  dared  within  the  wooden  horse 
where  all  we  Argive  chiefs  were  lying,  bearing  to  the 
Trojans  death  and  doom.  Erelong  you  passed  that 
way,  —  some  god  must  have  impelled  you  who  sought 
to  bring  the  Trojans  honor  ;  godlike  Deiphobus  was 
following"  after.  Thrice  walking  round  our  hollow 
ambush,  touching  it  here  and  there,  you  called  by 
name  the  Danaan  chiefs,  feigning  the  voice  of  every 
Argive's  wife.  Now  I  and  the  son  of  Tydeus  and 
royal  Odysseus,  crouched  in  the  middle,  heard  your 
call,  and  we  two,  starting  up,  were  minded  to  go  forth, 
or  else  to  answer  straightway  from  within  ;  but  Odys- 
seus held  ns  back  and  stayed  our  madness.  Then 
all  the  other  sons  of  the  Achaeans  held  their  peace. 


54  THE   ODYSSEY.  [IV.  286-316. 

Anticlus  only  was  determined  to  make  answer  to  your 
words  ;  but  Odysseus  firmly  closed  his  mouth  with  his 
strong  hands,  and  so  saved  all  the  Achaeans.  All 
through  that  time  he  held  him  thus,  till  Pallas  Athene 
led  you  off." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus :  "  O  son 
of  Atreus,  heaven  -  descended  Menelaus,  leader  of 
hosts,  so  much  the  harder  is  it ;  all  was  of  no  avail 
against  a  mournful  death,  though  an  iron  heart  was 
his.  Nay,  bring  us  to  our  beds,  that  so  at  last,  lulled 
in  sweet  sleep,  we  be  at  ease." 

He  spoke,  and  Argive  Helen  bade  the  maids  to  set 
a  bed  beneath  the  portico,  to  lay  upon  it  beautiful  pur- 
ple rugs,  spread  blankets  over  these,  and  then  place 
woolen  mantles  on  the  outside  for  a  covering.  So  the 
maids  left  the  hall,  with  torches  in  their  hands,  and 
spread  the  bed  ;  and  a  page  led  forth  the  strangers. 
Thus  in  the  porch  slept  prince  Telemachus  and  the 
illustrious  son  of  Nestor.  But  the  son  of  Atreus 
slept  in  the  recess  of  the  high  hall,  and  by  him  long- 
robed  Helen  lay,  a  queen  of  women. 

Soon  as  the  early  rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared, 
Menelaus,  good  at  the  war-cry,  rose  from  bed,  put  on 
his  clothes,  slung  his  sharp  sword  about  his  shoulder, 
under  his  shining  feet  bound  his  fair  sandals,  and 
came  forth  from  his  chamber  in  bearing  like  a  god. 
Then  seating  himself  beside  Telemachus,  he  thus  ad- 
dressed him,  saying : 

"What  is  it  that  has  brought  you  here,  my  lord 
Telemachus,  to  sacred  Lacedaemon  on  the  broad 
ocean-ridges  ?  A  public  need  or  private  ?  Tell  me 
the  very  truth." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus :  "  O  son  of 
Atreus,  heaven-descended  Menelaus,  leader  of  hosts, 


IV.  317-350.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  bb 

I  came  to  see  if  you  could  tell  me  tidings  of  my  father. 
My  home  is  swallowed  up,  my  rich  estate  is  wasted ; 
with  men  of  evil  hearts  my  house  is  filled,  men  who 
continually  butcher  my  thronging  flocks  and  swing- 
paced,  crook-horned  oxen,  —  the  suitors  of  my  mother, 
overweening  in  their  pride.  Therefore  I  now  come 
hither  to  your  knees  to  ask  if  you  will  tell  me  of  my 
father's  mournful  death,  in  case  you  saw  it  for  your- 
self with  your  own  eyes  or  from  some  other  heard 
the  story  of  his  wanderings ;  for  to  exceeding  grief  his 
mother  bore  him.  Use  no  mild  word  nor  yield  to 
pity  from  regard  for  me,  but  tell  me  fully  all  you 
chanced  to  see.  I  do  entreat  you,  if  ever  my  father, 
good  Odysseus,  in  word  or  deed  kept  covenant  with 
you  there  in  the  Trojan  land  where  you  Achaeans  suf- 
fered, be  mindful  of  it  now  ;  tell  me  the  very  truth." 

Then,  deeply  moved,  said  light-haired  Menelaus : 
"  Heavens  !  In  a  very  brave  man's  bed  they  sought 
to  lie,  the  weaklings  !  As  when  in  the  den  of  a  strong 
lion  a  hind  has  laid  asleep  her  new-born  sucking  fawns, 
then  roams  the  slopes  and  grassy  hollows  seeking 
food,  and  by  and  by  into  his  lair  the  lion  comes  and 
on  both  hind  and  fawns  brings  ghastly  doom  ;  so  shall 
Odysseus  bring  a  ghastly  doom  on  these.  Ah,  father 
Zeus,  Athene,  and  Apollo !  if  with  the  power  he 
showed  one  day  in  stately  Lesbos,  when  he  rose  and 
wrestled  in  a  match  with  Philomeleides,  and  down  he 
threw  him  heavily,  while  the  Achaeans  all  rejoiced,  — 
if  as  he  was  that  day  Odysseus  now  might  meet  the 
suitors,  they  all  would  find  quick  turns  of  fate  and 
bitter  rites  of  marriage.  But  as  to  what  you  ask  thus 
urgently,  I  will  not  turn  to  talk  of  other  things,  and 
so  deceive  you  ;  but  what  the  unerring  old  man  of  the 
sea  told  me,  in  not  a  word  will  I  disguise  or  hide  from 
you. 


56  THE   ODYSSEY.  [IV.  351-381. 

"  At  the  river  of  Egypt,  eager  as  I  was  to  hasten 
hither,  the  gods  still  held  me  back,  because  I  did  not 
make  the  offerings  due ;  and  the  gods  wish  us  ever  to 
be  mindful  of  their  precepts.  Now  in  the  surging  sea 
an  island  lies,  —  Pharos  they  call  it,  —  distant  as  far 
from  the  Egyptian  stream  as  a  hollow  ship  runs  in  a 
day  when  a  whistling  wind  blows  after.  By  it  there 
lies  a  bay  with  a  good  anchorage,  from  which  they 
send  the  trim  ships  off  to  sea  after  supplying  them 
with  drinking  water.  Here  the  gods  kept  me  twenty 
days ;  not  once  came  winds  that  blow  along  the  sea 
and  serve  for  aid  to  ships  on  the  broad  ocean-ridges. 
So  all  my  stores  would  have  been  spent  and  my  men's 
courage,  had  not  a  certain  goddess  pitiefl.  and  pre- 
served me.  This  was  Eidothea,  the  daughter  of 
mighty  Proteus,  the  old  man  of  the  sea ;  for  I  deeply 
moved  her  heart  as  she  met  me  on  my  solitary  way 
apart  from  my  companions  ;  for  they  were  ever  roam- 
ing round  the  island,  fishing  with  crooked  hooks,  and 
hunger  pinched  their  bellies.  She,  drawing  near  me, 
spoke  and  thus  she  said :  '  Are  you  so  very  helpless, 
stranger,  and  unnerved,  or  do  you  willingly  give  way, 
taking  a  pleasure  in  your  pains  ?  So  long  you  have 
been  pent  within  the  island,  unable  to  discover  an  es- 
cape, while  fainter  grows  the  courage  of  your  com- 
rades.' 

"  So  she  spoke,  and  answering  her  said  I :  '  Then 
let  me  tell  you,  whatsoever  goddess  you  may  be,  that  I 
remain  here  through  no  will  of  mine,  but  I  must  have 
given  offense  to  the  immortals,  who  hold  the  open  sky. 
Rather  tell  me,  —  for  gods  know  all,  —  which  of  the 
immortals  chains  me  here  and  bars  my  progress ;  and 
tell  me  of  my  homeward  way,  how  I  may  pass  along 
the  swarming  sea.' 


IV.  382-413.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  57 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  straight  the  heavenly  goddess  an- 
swered :  c  "Well,  stranger,  I  will  plainly  tell  you  all. 
There  haunts  this  place  a  certain  old  man  of  the  sea, 
unerring  and  immortal,  Proteus  of  Egypt,  who  knows 
the  depths  of  every  sea,  and  is  Poseidon's  minister. 
He  is,  men  say,  my  father,  who  begot  me.  If  you 
could  only  lie  in  wait  and  seize  on  him,  he  would 
tell  you  of  your  course,  the  stages  of  your  journey, 
and  of  your  homeward  way,  how  you  may  pass  along 
the  swarming  sea.  And  he  would  tell  you,  heaven- 
descended  man,  if  you  desire,  all  that  has  happened 
at  your  home,  of  good  or  ill,  while  you  have  wandered 
on  your  long  and  toilsome  way.' 

"  So  she  spoke,  and  answering  her  said  I :  '  Do  you 
instruct  me  how  to  lie  in  wait  for  the  old  god,  lest  he 
foreseeing  or  foreknowing  may  escape.  Hard  is  a  god 
for  mortal  man  to  master.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  straight  the  heavenly  goddess 
answered :  4  Well,  stranger,  I  will  truly  tell  you  all. 
When  now  the  sun  has  reached  mid-heaven,  forth  from 
the  water  comes  the  unerring  old  man  of  the  sea  at  a 
puff  of  the  west  wind  and  veiled  in  the  dark  ripple. 
When  he  is  come,  he  lays  him  down  under  the  caverned 
cliffs ;  while  round  him  seals,  the  brood  of  a  fair  sea 
nymph,  huddle  and  sleep,  on  rising  from  the  foaming 
water,  and  pungent  is  the  scent  they  breathe  of  the 
unfathomed  sea.  There  will  I  bring  you  at  the  dawn 
of  day  and  lay  you  in  the  line.  Meantime  do  you 
choose  carefully  for  comrades  the  three  best  men  you 
have  among  the  well-benched  ships.  And  I  will  tell 
you  all  the  old  man's  magic  arts.  First  he  will  count 
the  seals  and  go  their  round  ;  and  when  he  has  told 
them  off  by  fives  and  found  them  all,  he  will  lie  down 
among  them  like  a  shepherd  with  his  flock.     As  soon 


58  THE    ODYSSEY.  [IV.  414-446. 

as  you  see  him  sleeping,  summon  all  your  might  and 
main  and  hold  him  fast,  although  he  strive  and  strug- 
gle to  escape.  He  will  make  trial  of  you,  turning  into 
whatsoever  moves  on  earth,  to  water  even,  and  heaven- 
kindled  fire ;  yet  hold  unflinchingly  and  clasp  the 
more.  But  when  at  length  he  questions  you  in  his 
own  shape,  —  in  the  same  shape  as  when  you  saw  him 
sleeping,  —  then,  hero,  cease  from  violence  and  set  the 
old  man  free,  but  ask  what  god  afflicts  you,  and  ask 
about  your  homeward  way,  how  you  may  pass  along 
the  swarming  sea.' 

"  Saying  this,  she  plunged  into  the  surging  sea.  I  to 
the  ships  which  lay  along  the  sands  turned  me  away, 
and  as  I  went  my  heart  grew  very  dark.  But  when  I 
came  to  the  ship  and  to  the  sea  and  we  had  made  our 
supper  and  the  immortal  night  drew  near,  we  laid  us 
down  to  sleep  upon  the  beach.  Then  as  the  early 
rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared,  along  the  shore  of  the 
wide-stretching  sea  I  went  with  many  supplications  to 
the  gods.  I  took  three  comrades  with  me,  men  whom 
I  trusted  most  in  every  undertaking. 

"  She,  in  the  mean  time,  having  plunged  into  the 
sea's  broad  bosom,  brought  from  the  deep  four  skins 
of  seals ;  all  were  fresh-flayed ;  and  she  prepared  the 
plot  against  her  father.  She  had  scooped  hollows  in 
the  sands,  and  sat  awaiting  us.  Near  her  we  drew. 
She  made  us  all  lie  down  in  order  and  threw  a  skin 
on  each.  Then  might  our  ambuscade  have  proved  a 
hard  one  ;  for  the  pestilent  stench  of  the  sea-born  seals 
oppressed  us  sorely.  And  who  would  make  his  bed 
beside  a  monster  of  the  sea  ?  But  she  preserved  us 
and  contrived  for  us  great  ease.  Under  the  nose  of 
each  she  set  ambrosia,  very  sweet  of  smell,  and  this  de- 
stroyed the  creature's  stench.     So  all  the  morning  did 


IV.  447-479.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  59 

we  wait  with  patient  hearts.  At  last  the  seals  came 
trooping  from  the  sea  and  soon  lay  down  in  order  on 
the  beach.  At  noon  out  of  the  sea  came  the  old  man, 
found  his  fat  seals,  went  over  all,  and  told  their  num- 
ber, telling  us  first  among  the  creatures,  and  never  in 
his  heart  suspected  there  was  fraud.  At  length  he  too 
lay  down.  Then  with  a  shout  we  sprang  and  threw 
our  arms  about  him,  and  the  old  man  did  not  forget 
his  crafty  wiles  :  for  first  he  turned  into  a  bearded  lion, 
then  to  a  dragon,  leopard,  and  huge  boar ;  he  turned 
into  liquid  water,  into  a  branching  tree ;  still  we  held 
firm,  with  patient  hearts.  But  when  at  last  the  old 
man  wearied,  skillful  though  he  was  in  magic  arts,  in 
open  speech  he  questioned  me  and  said : 

u  i  Which  of  the  gods,  O  son  of  Atreus,  aided  your 
plot  to  seize  me  here  against  my  will,  by  ambuscade  ? 
What  would  you  have  ?  ' 

"  So  he  spoke,  and  answering  him  said  I :  '  You 
know,  old  man,  —  why  put  me  off  with  such  a  question? 
—  how  long  a  time  I  am  confined  upon  this  island,  un- 
able to  discover  an  escape,  while  fainter  grows  my 
heart  within.  Rather  tell  me,  —  for  gods  know  all,  — 
which  of  the  immortals  chains  me  here  and  bars  my 
progress ;  and  tell  me  of  my  homeward  way,  how  I 
may  pass  along  the  swarming  sea.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  straightway  answering  me  said 
he :  4  Nay,  but  to  Zeus  and  to  the  other  gods  you 
should  have  made  good  offerings  on  setting  forth,  if 
you  would  quickly  reach  your  land,  sailing  the  wine- 
dark  sea ;  for  now  it  is  appointed  you  to  see  your 
friends  no  more  nor  reach  your  stately  house  and  na- 
tive land  till  you  have  gone  again  to  Egypt's  waters, 
to  its  heaven-descended  stream,  and  offered  sacred 
hecatombs  to  the  immortal  gods  who  hold  the  open 


60  THE    ODYSSEY.  [IV.  480-511. 

sky.  Then  shall  the  gods  grant  you  the  course  which 
you  desire.' 

"  As  thus  he  spoke,  my  very  soul  was  crushed 
within  me  because  he  bade  me  cross  again  the  misty 
sea  and  go  to  Egypt's  river,  a  long  and  weary  way. 
Yet  still  I  answered  thus  and  said :  '  Old  man,  all 
that  you  bid  me  I  will  do.  Only  declare  me  this  and 
plainly  tell,  did  all  the  Achaeans  with  their  ships  re- 
turn unharmed,  whom  Nestor  and  I  left  on  our  set- 
ting forth  from  Troy?  Did  any  die  by  grievous  death 
at  sea  or  in  the  arms  of  friends  when  the  skein  of  war 
was  wound  ?  ' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  straightway  answering  me  said 
he  :  i  Son  of  Atreus,  why  question  me  of  this  ?  Bet- 
ter it  were  you  should  not  see  nor  comprehend  my 
knowledge  ;  for  certainly  you  will  not  long  be  free 
from  tears  after  you  learn  the  truth.  Yes,  many  were 
cut  off  and  many  spared.  Of  leaders,  only  two  among 
the  mailed  Achaeans  died  on  the  journey  home,  —  as 
for  the  battle,  you  yourself  were  there,  —  and  one,  still 
living,  lingers  yet  on  the  wide  sea.  Ajax  was  lost,  he 
and  his  long-oared  ships.  At  first  Poseidon  wrecked 
him  on  the  great  rocks  of  Gyrae,  but  saved  him  from 
the  sea.  And  so  he  might  have  escaped  his  doom, 
though  hated  by  Athene,  had  he  not  uttered  overween- 
ing words,  puffed  up  with  ]3ride  ;  for  he  said  he  had 
escaped  the  great  gulf  of  the  sea  in  spite  of  gods. 
Poseidon  heard  his  haughty  boasting,  and  straightway, 
grasping  the  trident  in  his  sturdy  hands,  he  smote  the 
rock  of  Gyrae,  splitting  it  open.  One  part  still  held 
its  place  ;  the  broken  piece  fell  in  the  sea.  It  was 
on  this  Ajax  at  first  had  sat,  puffed  up  with  pride. 
It  bore  him  down  into  the  boundless  surging  deep. 
So  there  he  died,  drinking  the  briny  water. 


IV.  512-543.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  Gl 

"  '  Your  brother  escaped  his  doom  and  came  in 
safety,  he  and  his  hollow  ships ;  for  powerful  Here 
saved  him.  But  when  he  was  about  to  reach  the 
steep  height  of  Maleia,  a  sweeping  storm  bore  him 
once  more  along  the  swarming  sea,  loudly  lamenting, 
to  the  confines  of  that  country  where  Thyestes  dwelt 
in  former  days,  but  where  now  dwelt  Thyestes'  son, 
Aegisthus.  And  when  at  last  from  this  point  on  his 
course  was  clear  of  danger,  and  the  gods  changed 
the  wind  about  and  home  they  came,  then  with  rejoi- 
cing did  he  tread  his  country's  soil,  and  he  kissed 
and  clasped  that  soil ;  and  from  him  many  hot  tears 
fell,  for  he  saw  the  land  with  gladness.  But  from  a 
tower  a  watchman  spied  him,  whom  wily  Aegisthus 
posted  there  and  promised  him  for  pay  two  talents 
of  gold.  He  had  been  keeping  guard  throughout 
the  year,  lest  unobserved  the  king  might  come  and 
try  the  force  of  arms.  He  hastened  to  the  house  to 
tell  the  shepherd  of  the  people,  and  soon  Aegisthus 
planned  his  treacherous  craft.  Selecting  twenty  of 
the  bravest  in  the  land,  he  laid  an  ambush  ;  and  just 
across  the  hall  bade  that  a  feast  be  spread.  Then  he 
went  to  welcome  Agamemnon,  the  shepherd  of  the 
people,  with  horses  and  with  chariots,  while  medita- 
ting crimes.  He  led  him  up  unheeding  to  his  death 
and  slew  him  at  the  feast,  even  as  one  kills  the  ox  be- 
fore the  manger.  Not  a  follower  of  the  son  of  Atreus 
lived,  nor  a  follower  of  Aegisthus ;  all  died  within  the 
hall.' 

"  As  thus  he  spoke,  my  very  soid  was  crushed 
within  me,  and  sitting  on  the  sands  I  fell  to  weeping  ; 
my  heart  no  longer  cared  to  live  and  see  the  sunshine. 
But  when  of  weeping  and  of  writhing  I  had  had  my 
fill,  then  said  the  unerring  old  man  of  the  sea :  i  Do 


62  THE    ODYSSEY.  [IV.  544-576. 

not,  O  son  of  Atreus,  long  and  unceasingly  thus  weep, 
because  we  know  there  is  no  remedy.  Seek  rather 
with  all  speed  to  reach  your  native  land ;  for  either 
you  will  find  Aegisthus  still  alive,  or  Orestes  will  have 
slain  him,  so  forestalling  you,  and  you  may  join  the 
funeral  feast.' 

"  So  he  spoke,  and  the  heart  and  sturdy  spirit  in 
my  breast  through  all  my  grief  again  grew  warm  ; 
and  speaking  in  winged  words  I  said :  4  Of  these  men 
then  I  know,  but  name  the  third  who  still  alive  lin- 
gers on  the  wide  sea  ;  or  be  he  dead,  spite  of  my  grief 
I  fain  would  hear.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  straightway  answering  me  said 
he  :  4  It  is  Laertes'  son,  whose  home  is  Ithaca.  I  saw 
him  on  an  island,  letting  the  big  tears  fall,  in  the 
hall  of  the  nymph  Calypso,  who  holds  him  there  by 
force.  No  power  has  he  to  reach  his  native  land,  for 
he  has  no  ships  fitted  with  oars,  nor  crews  to  bear  him 
over  the  broad  ocean-ridges.  As  for  yourself,  heaven- 
favored  Menelaus,  it  is  not  destined  you  shall  die  and 
meet  your  doom  in  grazing  Argos  ;  but  to  the  Ely- 
sian  plain  and  the  earth's  limits  the  immortal  gods 
shall  bring  you,  where  fair-haired  Rhadamanthus 
dwells.  Here  utterly  at  ease  passes  the  life  of  men. 
No  snow  is  here,  no  winter  long,  no  rain,  but  the  loud- 
blowing  breezes  of  the  west  the  Ocean-stream  sends 
up  to  bring  men  coolness  ;  for  you  have  Helen  and 
are  counted  son-in-law  of  Zeus.' 

"  Saying  this,  he  plunged  into  the  surging  sea.  I 
with  my  gallant  comrades  turned  to  our  ships,  and  as 
I  went  my  heart  grew  very  dark.  But  when  we  came 
to  the  ship  and  to  the  sea,  and  we  had  made  our  sup- 
per, and  the  immortal  night  drew  near,  we  laid  us 
down  to  sleep  upon  the  beach.    Then  as  the  early  rosy- 


IV.  577-610]  THE    ODYSSEY.  63 

fingered  dawn  appeared,  we  in  the  first  place  launched 
our  ships  into  the  sacred  sea,  put  masts  and  sails  in 
the  trim  ships,  the  men  embarked  themselves,  took 
places  at  the  pins,  and  sitting  in  order  smote  the 
foaming  water  with  their  oars.  So  back  again  to 
Egypt's  waters,  to  its  heaven-descended  stream,  I 
brought  my  ships  and  made  the  offerings  due.  And 
after  appeasing  the  anger  of  the  gods  that  live  for- 
ever, I  raised  a  mound  to  Agamemnon,  that  his  fame 
might  never  die.  This  done,  I  sailed  away ;  the  gods 
gave  wind  and  brought  me  swiftly  to  my  native  land. 
But  come,  remain  awhile  here  at  my  hall  until  eleven 
or  twelve  days  pass.  Then  I  will  send  you  forth 
with  honor,  giving  you  splendid  gifts,  three  horses 
and  a  polished  car.  Moreover,  I  will  give  a  goodly 
chalice,  that  as  you  pour  libations  to  the  immortal 
gods  you  may  be  mindfnl  all  your  days  of  me." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus :  "  O  son 
of  Atreus,  keep  me  no  long  time  here,  though  I  could 
be  content  to  stay  a  year,  and  no  desire  for  kindred 
or  for  home  would  ever  come  ;  for  I  find  a  wonderful 
pleasure  in  hearing  your  tales  and  talk.  But  already 
friends  at  hallowed  Pylos  are  uneasy,  and  you  still 
hold  me  here.  As  for  the  gift  that  you  would  give, 
pray  let  it  be  some  keepsake.  Horses  I  will  not  take 
to  Ithaca,  but  leave  them  as  an  honor  here  for  you  ; 
for  you  rule  open  plains,  where  lotus  is  abundant, 
marsh-grass  and  wheat  and  corn,  and  the  white  broad- 
eared  barley.  In  Ithaca  there  are  no  open  runs,  no 
meadows  ;  a  land  for  goats,  and  pleasanter  than  graz- 
ing country.  Not  one  of  the  islands  is  a  place  to 
drive  a  horse,  none  has  good  meadows,  of  all  that  rest 
upon  the  sea  ;  Ithaca  least  of  all." 

He  spoke,  and  Menelaus,  good  at  the  war-cry, 
smiled,  patted  him  with  his  hand,  and  said : 


64  THE   ODYSSEY.  [IV.  611-641. 

"  Of  noble  blood  you  are,  dear  child,  as  your  words 
show.  Yes,  I  will  make  the  change,  for  well  I  can. 
And  out  of  all  the  gifts  stored  iu  my  house  as  trea- 
sures I  will  give  you  that  which  is  most  beautiful  and 
precious  :  I  will  give  a  well-wrought  bowl.  It  is  of 
solid  silver,  its  rim  finished  with  gold,  the  work  of 
Hephaestus.  Lord  Phaedimus,  the  king  of  the  Si- 
donians,  gave  it  to  me,  when  his  house  sheltered  me 
upon  my  homeward  way.  And  now  to  you  I  gladly 
give  it. 

So  they  conversed  together.  But  banqueters  were 
coming  to  the  palace  of  the  noble  king.  Men  drove 
up  sheep,  and  brought  the  cheering  wine,  and  their 
veiled  wives  sent  bread.  Thus  they  were  busied  with 
their  dinner  in  the  hall. 

Meanwhile  before  the  palace  of  Odysseus  the  sui- 
tors were  making  merry,  throwing  the  discus  and  the 
hunting  spear  upon  the  level  pavement,  holding  riot  as 
of  old.  Here  sat  Antinoiis  and  god-like  Eurymachus, 
the  leaders  of  the  suitors  ;  for  they  in  manly  excel- 
lence were  quite  the  best  of  all.  To  them  Noemon, 
son  of  Phronius,  now  drew  near ;  and  questioning 
Antinoiis  thus  he  spoke : 

"  Antinoiis,  do  we  know,  or  do  we  not,  when  Tele- 
machus  will  come  from  sandy  Pylos  ?  He  took  a  ship 
of  mine  and  went  away,  and  now  I  need  her  for  cross- 
ing to  broad  Elis  where  I  keep  my  twelve  brood  mares. 
The  hardy  mules,  their  foals,  are  still  unbroken  ;  one 
I  would  fetch  away  and  break  him  in." 

So  he  spoke.  The  others  were  amazed.  They  did 
not  think  Telemachus  was  gone  to  Pylos,  to  the  land 
of  Neleus ;  they  thought  he  still  was  somewhere  at  the 
farm,  among  the  flocks,  or  with  the  swineherd. 

Then    said    Antinoiis,    Eupeithes'  son :    "  Tell  me 


IV.  642-672.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  65 

precisely  when  he  went  and  what  young  men  were 
with  him.  Picked  men  of  Ithaca,  or  did  he  take  his 
hirelings  and  slaves  ?  That  indeed  he  might  do  ! 
And  tell  me  truly  this,  that  I  may  know  it  well ;  did 
he  with  violence,  against  your  will,  take  the  black 
ship  ?  Or  did  you  give  it  willingly,  because  he 
begged?" 

Then  answered  him  Noemon,  son  of  Phronius  :  "  I 
gave  it  willingly.  What  could  one  do  when  a  man 
like  him,  with  troubles  on  his  heart,  entreated  ?  Hard 
would  it  be  to  keep  from  giving.  The  youths  who 
next  to  us  are  noblest  in  the  land  are  his  companions. 
I  marked  their  captain  as  he  went  on  board,  and  it 
was  Mentor  or  a  god  exactly  like  him.  Yet  this  is 
strange.  Here  I  saw  noble  Mentor  yesterday  in  the 
morning ;  and  there  he  was  embarking  on  the  ship  for 
Pylos." 

So  saying,  he  departed  to  his  father's  house.  But 
the  proud  spirits  of  the  two  were  stirred.  They  made 
the  suitors  seat  themselves  and  stop  their  sports.  And 
then  Antinoiis,  Eupeithes'  son,  addressed  them  in  dis- 
pleasure. With  great  passion  was  his  dark  soul  filled. 
His  eyes  were  like  bright  fire. 

"  Well !  Well !  Here  is  a  monstrous  action  im- 
pudently brought  to  pass,  this  journey  of  Telemachus. 
We  said  it  should  not  be ;  and  here  in  spite  of  all  of 
us  this  young  boy  simply  goes,  launching  a  ship  and 
picking  out  the  best  men  of  the  land.  Before  we 
think,  he  will  begin  to  be  our  bane.  But  may  Zeus 
blast  his  power  before  he  reaches  man's  estate  !  Come 
then,  and  give  me  a  swift  ship  with  twenty  comrades, 
and  I  will  lie  in  wait  upon  his  way,  and  guard  the 
strait  twixt  Ithaca  and  rugged  Samos.  So  to  his  grief 
he  cruises  off  to  find  his  father."     He  spoke,  and  all 


66  THE   ODYSSEY.  [IV.  673-704. 

approved  and  urged  hiin  on.  And  presently  they  rose 
and  entered  the  hall  of  Odysseus. 

But  now  Penelope,  no  long  time  after,  learned  of 
the  plans  on  which  the  suitors'  hearts  were  brooding. 
For  the  page  Medon  told  her,  who  overheard  the  plot 
as  he  stood  outside  the  court,  jvhile  they  within  it 
framed  their  scheme.  He  hastened  through  the  palace 
with  the  tidings  to  Penelope ;  and  as  he  crossed  her 
threshold  Penelope  thus  spoke  : 

"Page,  why  have  the  lordly  suitors  sent  you  here? 
Was  it  to  tell  the  maids  of  princely  Odysseus  to  put 
by  work  and  lay  their  table  ?  Oh  that  they  had  not 
wooed  or  gathered  here,  or  that  they  here  to-day 
might  eat  their  last  and  latest  meal !  You  troop  about 
and  squander  all  our  living,  even  all  the  estate  of 
wise  Telemachus.  To  your  fathers  of  old  you  gave 
no  heed  when  you  wTere  children,  nor  heard  what  sort 
of  man  Odysseus  was  among  your  elders,  how  he  did 
no  wrong  by  deed  or  word  to  any  in  the  land.  And 
that  is  the  common  way  with  high-born  kings ;  one 
man  they  hate  and  love  another.  But  he  wrought  no 
iniquity  to  any  man.  Yet  what  your  disposition  is, 
and  what  your  shameful  deeds,  is  plain  to  see.  There 
is  no  gratitude  for  good  deeds  done." 

Then  Medon  spoke,  a  man  of  understanding  :  "  Ah, 
Queen,  I  would  that  were  our  greatest  ill ;  but 
weightier  matters  yet,  a  sorer  evil,  the  suitors  now 
propose  —  which  may  the  son  of  Kronos  hinder ! 
They  have  resolved  to  slay  Telemachus  with  the  keen 
sword,  as  he  sails  home.  He  went  away  for  tidings 
of  his  father,  to  hallowed  Pylos  and  to  sacred  Lace- 
daemon." 

As  he  thus  spoke,  her  knees  grew  feeble  and  her 
very  soul.     Long  time  a  speechless  stupor  held  her; 


IV.  705-736.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  67 

her  two  eyes  filled  with  tears,  her  full  voice  stayed. 
But  at  the  last  she  answered  thus  and  said :  "  Page, 
why  is  my  child  gone  ?  What  need  had  he  to  mount 
the  coursing  ships,  which  serve  men  for  sea-horses  and 
cross  the  mighty  flood?  Was  it  to  leave  no  name 
among  men  here  ?  ' 

Then  answered  Medon,  that  man  of  understanding : 
"  I  do  not  know  whether  a  god  impelled  him,  or  if  his 
own  heart  stirred  within  to  go  to  Pylos,  to  gather 
tidings  of  his  father's  coming  or  there  to  learn  what 
fate  he  met." 

So  saying,  he  departed  along  the  hall  of  Odysseus. 
But  upon  her  heart-eating  anguish  fell.  No  longer 
had  she  power  to  sit  upon  a  chair,  though  many  were 
in  the  room,  but  down  she  sank  upon  the  floor  of  her 
rich  chamber,  pitifully  moaning.  Round  about,  her 
maids  were  sobbing  —  all  her  household,  young  and 
old.     And  with  repeated  cries,  Penelope  thus  spoke  : 

44  Listen,  dear  maids  !  Surely  the  Olympian  gave 
me  exceeding  sorrow,  beyond  all  women  born  and 
bred  my  mates.  For  I  in  former  days  lost  my  good 
husband,  a  man  of  lion  heart,  for  every  excellence 
honored  among  the  Danaans  —  good  man !  his  fame 
is  wide  through  Hellas  and  mid-Argos.  Moreover 
now  my  darling  son  the  winds  have  snatched  away, 
silently,  from  my  halls  ;  I  heard  not  of  his  going. 
Hard-hearted  maids  !  No  one  of  you  took  thought  to 
rouse  me  from  my  bed,  though  well  your  own  hearts 
knew  when  he  embarked  on  the  black  hollow  ship. 
Ah,  had  I  learned  that  he  was  purposing  this  jour- 
ney, surely  he  would  have  stayed,  however  eager  for 
the  journey,  or  else  he  should  have  left  me  dead 
within  the  hall.  But  now  let  some  one  haste  and  call 
old  Dolius,  the  slave  my  father  gave  when  I  came  here, 


68  THE    ODYSSEY.  [IV.  737-767. 

who  tends  my  orchard  trees ;  that  he  may  quickly  go, 
seat  himself  by  Laertes  and,  telling  all,  learn  if  Laer- 
tes can  devise  a  way  to  come  before  the  people  and 
cry  out  against  the  men  who  seek  to  crush  his  race 
and  that  of  great  Odysseus." 

Then  answered  her  the  good  nurse  Eurycleia  : 
"  Dear  lady,  slay  me  with  the  ruthless  sword  or  leave 
me  in  the  hall ;  I  will  not  hide  my  story.  I  knew  of 
all.  I  gave  him  what  he  wanted,  bread  and  sweet 
wine.  But  he  exacted  from  me  a  solemn  oath  to 
speak  no  word  to  you  until  twelve  days  were  past, 
or  until  you  should  miss  him  and  hear  that  he  was 
gone,  that  so  you  might  not  stain  your  beautiful  face 
with  tears.  Now  therefore  bathe,  and  putting  on 
fresh  garments,  go  to  your  upper  chamber  with  your 
maids,  and  offer  prayer  to  Athene,  daughter  of  aegis- 
bearing  Zeus  ;  for  thus  she  may  preserve  him  safe 
from  death.  Vex  not  an  old  man,  vexed  already. 
Surely  I  cannot  think  the  Arceisian  line  is  wholly 
hateful  to  the  blessed  gods.  Nay,  one  shall  still  sur- 
vive to  hold  the  high-roofed  house  and  the  fat  fields 
around." 

She  spoke,  and  lulled  the  other's  cries  and  stayed 
her  eyes  from  tears.  Penelope  bathed,  and  putting 
on  fresh  garments  went  to  her  upper  chamber  with 
her  maids,  took  barley  in  a  basket,  and  thus  she 
prayed  Athene : 

"  Hear  me,  thou  child  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus,  un- 
wearied one  !  If  ever  wise  Odysseus  when  at  home 
burned  the  fat  thighs  of  ox  or  sheep  to  thee,  thereof 
be  mindful  now  ;  preserve  me  my  dear  son.  Guard 
him  against  the  cruel  suitors'  wrongs." 

Thus  having  said,  she  raised  the  cry,  and  the  god- 
dess heard  her  prayer.     But  the  suitors  broke  into 


IV.  768-801.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  69 

uproar  up  and  down  the  dusky  hall,  and  a  rude  youth 
would  say :  "  Ha,  ha !  at  last  the  long-wooed  queen 
makes  ready  for  our  marriage.  Little  she  thinks  that 
for  her  son  death  is  in  waiting."  So  they  would  say, 
but  knew  not  how  things  were. 

And  now  Antinoiis  addressed  them,  saying  :  "  Good 
sirs,  beware  of  haughty  talk  of  every  kind,  or  some 
one  may  report  it  indoors  too.  Come,  rather,  let  us 
rise  and  quietly  as  we  may  let  us  effect  the  scheme 
which  pleased  the  hearts  of  all." 

So  saying,  he  chose  the  twenty  fittest  men,  w7ho 
went  to  the  swift  ship  and  to  the  shore.  They  in  the 
first  place  launched  the  ship  into  deep  water,  put 
mast  and  sail  in  the  black  ship,  fitted  the  oars  into 
their  leathern  slings,  all  in  due  order,  and  up  aloft 
spread  the  white  sail.  Stately  squires  carried  their 
armor.  Out  in  the  stream  they  moored  the  boat,  they 
themselves  disembarked,  took  supper  there,  and  waited 
for  the  evening  to  come  on.  • 

But  in  her  upper  chamber  heedful  Penelope  still 
lay  fasting,  tasting  neither  food  nor  drink,  anxious 
whether  her  gentle  son  would  escape  death,  or  by  the 
audacious  suitors  be  borne  down  ;  as  doubts  a  lion  in 
a  crowd  of  men,  in  terror  as  they  draw  the  crafty  cir- 
cle round  him.  To  her  in  such  anxiety  sweet  slumber 
came,  and  lying  back  she  slept  and  every  joint  re- 
laxed. 

Now  a  new  plan  the  goddess  formed,  clear-eyed 
Athene.  She  shaped  a  phantom  fashioned  in  a  wo- 
man's form,  even  like  Iphthime,  daughter  of  brave 
Icarius,  her  whom  Eumelus  married,  that  had  his 
home  at  Pherae.  And  this  she  sent  to  the  house  of 
princely  Odysseus,  that  it  might  make  Penelope, 
mourning  and  sighing  now,  cease  from  her  griefs  and 


70  THE   ODYSSEY.  [IV.  802-834. 

tearful  cries.  It  came  into  the  chamber  past  the  bolt- 
strap,  stood  by  her  head  and  thus  addressed  her  : 

"Are  you  asleep,  Penelope,  dear  troubled  heart? 
No,  never  shall  the  gods  that  live  at  ease  leave  you 
to  weep  and  pine ;  for  still  your  son  is  destined  to  re- 
turn, since  in  the  gods'  sight  he  is  no  trangressor." 

Then  answered  heedful  Penelope,  very  sweetly  slum- 
bering at  the  gates  of  dreams  :  "  Why,  sister,  have  you 
come  ?  You  never  before  were  with  me,  because  your 
home  is  very  far  away.  And  you  bid  me  cease  from 
grief  and  all  the  pangs  that  vex  my  mind  and  heart, 
me  who  in  former  days  lost  my  good  husband,  a  man 
of  lion  heart,  for  every  excellence  honored  among  the 
Danaans  —  £ood  man  !  his  fame  is  wide  through  Hel- 
las  and  mid-Argos.  Moreover  now  my  darling  son  is 
gone  on  a  hollow  ship,  a  mere  boy  too,  but  little 
skilled  in  cares  and  counsels.  Therefore  for  him  I 
mourn  even  more  than  for  that  other.  For  him  I 
tremble,  and  I  fear  that  he  may  meet  with  ill,  either 
from  those  within  the  land  where  he  is  gone,  or  on 
the  sea.  For  many  evil-minded  men  now  plot  against 
him  and  seek  to  cut  him  off  before  he  gains  his  native 
land." 

And  answering  her,  said  the  dim  phantom  :  "  Take 
heart,  and  be  not  in  your  mind  too  sore  afraid.  So 
true  a  guide  goes  with  him  as  other  men  have  prayed 
for  aid — for  powerful  is  she  —  Pallas  Athene.  See- 
ing you  grieve,  she  pities  you,  and  it  was  she  who  sent 
me  here  to  tell  you  so." 

Then  heedful  Penelope  said  to  her :  "If  you  are  a 
god  and  have  obeyed  some  heavenly  bidding,  come 
tell  me  also  of  that  hapless  one,  if  he  still  lives  and 
sees  the  sunshine  ;  or  is  he  now  already  dead  and  in 
the  house  of  Hades  ?  " 


IV.  835-847.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  71 

And  answering  her,  said  the  dim  phantom :  "  Of 
him  I  will  not  speak  at  length,  be  he  alive  or  dead. 
To  speak  vain  words  is  ill." 

So  saying,  it  glided  past  the  door-post's  bolt  into 
the  airy  breezes.  And  out  of  sleep  awoke  Icarius' 
daughter,  and  her  very  soul  was  warmed,  so  clear  a 
dream  was  sent  her  in  the  dead  of  night. 

Meanwhile  the  suitors,  embarking  in  their  ship,  sailed 
on  their  watery  journey,  purposing  in  their  minds  the 
speedy  murder  of  Telemachus.  Now  in  mid-sea  there 
is  a  rocky  island,  midway  from  Ithaca  to  rugged 
Samos  —  Star  Islet  called  —  of  no  great  size.  It 
has  a  harbor,  safe  for  ships,  on  either  side ;  and  here 
it  was  the  Achaeans  waited,  watching. 


V. 

THE  RAFT   OF   ODYSSEUS. 

Dawn  from  her  couch  by  high  Tithonus  rose  to 
bring  light  to  immortals  and  to  men  ;  and  now  the 
gods  sat  down  to  council.  With  them  was  Zeus,  who 
thunders  from  on  high,  whose  power  is  over  all ;  and 
to  them  Athene,  ever  mindful  of  Odysseus,  told  of  his 
many  woes  ;  for  she  was  troubled  by  his  stay  at  the 
dwelling  of  the  nymph. 

"  O  Father  Zeus,  and  all  you  blessed  gods  that 
live  forever,  never  again  let  sceptred  king  in  all  sin- 
cerity be  kind  and  gentle,  nor  let  him  in  his  mind 
heed  righteousness.  Let  him  instead  ever  be  stern 
and  work  unrighteous  deeds ;  since  none  remembers 
princely  Odysseus  among  the  people  whom  he  ruled, 
kind  father  though  he  was.  Upon  an  island  now  he 
lies,  deeply  distressed,  at  the  hall  of  the  nymph  Ca- 
lypso, who  holds  him  there  by  force.  No  power  has 
he  to  reach  his  native  land,  for  he  has  no  ships  fitted 
with  oars,  nor  crews  to  bear  him  over  the  broad  ocean- 
ridges.  Now,  too,  men  seek  to  slay  his  darling  son, 
as  he  sails  home.  He  went  away  for  tidings  of  his 
father,  to  hallowed  Pylos  and  to  sacred  Lacedaemon." 

Then  answering,  said  cloud-gathering  Zeus  :  "  My 
child,  what  word  has  passed  the  barrier  of  your  teeth  ? 
For  was  it  not  yourself  j)roposed  the  plan  to  have 
Odysseus  crush  these  men  by  his  return  ?  As  for 
Telemachus,  aid  him  upon  his  way  with  wisdom,  — 


V.  25-56.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  73 

as  you  caD,  —  that  he  may  come  unharmed  to  his  own 
native  land,  and  the  suitors  in  their  ship  may  be  turned 
back  again." 

He  spoke,  and  said  to  Hermes,  his  dear  son : 
"  Hermes,  since  you  in  all  things  are  my  messenger, 
tell  to  the  fair-haired  nymph  our  steadfast  purpose, 
that  hardy  Odysseus  shall  go  forth  upon  his  homeward 
way,  not  with  gods'  guidance  nor  with  that  of  mortal 
man ;  but  by  himself,  beset  with  sorrows,  on  a  strong- 
built  raft,  he  shall  in  twenty  days  reach  fertile  Scheria, 
the  land  of  the  Phaeacians,  who  are  kinsmen  of  the 
gods.  There  shall  they  greatly  honor  him,  as  if  he 
were  a  god,  and  bring  him  on  his  way  by  ship  to  his 
own  native  land,  giving  him  stores  of  bronze  and  gold 
and  clothing,  more  than  Odysseus  would  have  won  from 
Troy  itself,  had  he  returned  unharmed  with  his  due 
share  of  spoil.  Thus,  then,  it  is  his  lot  to  see  his 
friends  and  reach  his  high-roofed  house  and  native 
land." 

So  he  spoke,  and  the  guide,  the  Speedy-comer,  did 
not  disobey  ;  forthwith  under  his  feet  he  bound  his 
beautiful  sandals,  immortal,  made  of  gold,  which  carry 
him  over  the  flood  and  over  the  boundless  land  swift 
as  a  breath  of  wind.  He  took  the  wand  with  which 
he  charms  to  sleep  the  eyes  of  whom  he  will,  while 
again  whom  he  will  he  wakens  out  of  slumber.  With 
this  in  hand,  the  powerful  Speedy-comer  began  his 
flight.  On  coming  to  Pieria,  out  of  the  upper  air 
lie  dropped  down  on  the  deep  and  skimmed  along  the 
water  like  a  bird,  a  gull,  which  down  the  fearful  hol- 
lows of  the  barren  sea,  snatching  at  fish,  dips  its  thick 
plumage  in  the  spray.  In  such  wise,  through  the  mul- 
titude of  waves,  moved  Hermes.  But  when  he  neared 
the  distant  island,  there  turning  landward  from  the 


74  THE   ODYSSEY.  [V.  57-89. 

dark  blue  sea,  he  walked  until  he  came  to  a  great 
grotto  where  dwelt  the  fair-haired  nymph.  He  found 
she  was  within.  Upon  the  hearth  a  great  fire  blazed, 
and  far  along  the  island  the  fragrance  of  cleft  cedar 
and  of  sandal- wood  sent  perfume  as  they  burned.  In- 
doors, and  singing  with  sweet  voice,  she  tended  her  loom 
and  wove  with  golden  shuttle.  Around  the  grotto, 
trees  grew  luxuriantly,  alder  and  poplar  and  sweet- 
scented  cypress,  where  long-winged  birds  had  nests,  — 
owls,  hawks,  and  sea-crows  ready-tongued,  that  ply 
their  business  in  the  waters.  Here  too  was  trained 
over  the  hollow  grotto  a  thrifty  vine,  luxuriant  with 
clusters ;  and  four  springs  in  a  row  were  running  with 
clear  water,  making  their  way  from  one  another  here 
and  there.  On  every  side  soft  meadows  of  violet 
and  parsley  bloomed.  Here,  therefore,  even  an  im- 
mortal who  should  come  might  gaze  at  what  he  saw, 
and  in  his  heart  be  glad.  Here  stood  and  gazed  the 
guide,  the  Speedy-comer.  Then  after  he  had  gazed  to 
his  heart's  fill  on  all,  straightway  he  entered  the  wide- 
mouthed  grotto,  and  at  a  glance  Calypso,  the  heavenly 
goddess,  failed  not  to  know  it  was  he ;  for  not  un- 
known to  one  another  are  immortal  gods,  although 
they  have  their  dwellings  far  apart.  But  brave  Odys- 
seus he  did  not  find  within ;  for  he  sat  weeping  on  the 
shore,  where,  as  of  old,  with  tears  and  groans  and 
griefs  racking  his  heart,  he  watched  the  barren 
sea  and  poured  forth  tears.  And  now  Calypso,  the 
heavenly  goddess,  questioned  Hermes,  seating  him  on 
a  handsome,  shining  chair : 

"  Pray,  Hermes  of  the  golden  wand,  why  are  you 
come,  honored  and  welcome  though  you  are  ?  You 
were  not  often  with  me  hitherto.  Speak  what  you 
have  in  mind ;  my  heart  bids  me  to  do  it,  if  I  can  do 


V.  90-12-4.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  15 

it  and  it  is  a  thing  that  can  be  done.     But  follow  me 
first,  and  let  me  give  you  entertainment." 

So  saying,  the  goddess  laid  a  table,  loading  it  with 
ambrosia  and  mixing  ruddy  nectar  ;  and  so  the  guide, 
the  Speedy-comer,  drank  and  ate.  But  when  he  had 
eaten  dinner  and  stayed  his  heart  with  food,  then  thus 
he  answered  her  and  said  : 

"  Goddess,  you  question  me,  a  god,  about  my  com- 
ing hither,  and  I  will  truly  tell  my  story  as  you  bid. 
Zeus  ordered  me  to  come,  against  my  will.     Who  of 
his  own  accord  would  cross  such  stretches  of  salt  sea  ? 
Interminable  !     And  no  city  of  men  at  hand  to  make 
an  offering  to  the  gods  and  bring  them  chosen  heca- 
tombs.    Nevertheless  the  will  of   aegis-bearing  Zeus 
no  god  may  cross  or  set  at  naught.     He  says  a  man 
is  with  you,  the  most  unfortunate  of  all  who  fought 
for  Priam's  town  nine   years  and   in   the    tenth   de- 
stroyed the  city  and  departed  home.     They  on  their 
homeward  way  offended  Athene,  who  raised  ill  winds 
against  them  and  a  heavy  sea.     Thus  all  the  rest  of 
his   good   comrades    perished,  but    wind    and   water 
brought  him  here.     This  is  the  man  whom  Zeus  now 
bids  you  send  away,   and  quickly  too,   for  it  is  not 
ordained  that  he  shall  perish  far  from  friends  ;  it  is 
his  lot  to  see  his  friends  once  more  and  reach  his  high- 
roofed  house  and  native  land." 

As  he  said  this,  Calypso,  the  heavenly  goddess, 
shuddered,  and  speaking  in  winged  words  she  said : 
"  Hard  are  you  gods  and  envious  beyond  all,  to  grudge 
the  goddesses  their  meeting  men  in  open  wedlock,  when 
one  makes  the  man  she  loves  her  husband.  So  when 
rosy-fingered  Dawn  had  chosen  Orion,  you  gods  that 
live  at  ease  grudged  him  to  her,  till  in  Ortvffia  chaste 
gold-throned  Artemis  attacked  and  slew  him  with  her 


76  THE   ODYSSEY.  [V.  125-159. 

gentle  arrows.  When,  too,  fair-haired  Demeter,  fol- 
lowing her  heart,  lay  with  Iasion  in  the  thrice- 
ploughed  field,  not  long  was  Zeus  unmindful ;  for  he 
slew  him,  hurling  his  gleaming  bolt.  So  now  again, 
you  gods  grudge  me  the  mortal  tarrying  here.  Yet 
it  was  I  who  saved  him,  as  he  rode  astride  his  keel 
alone,  when  Zeus  with  a  gleaming  bolt  smote  his  swift 
ship  and  wrecked  it  in  the  middle  of  the  wine-dark 
sea.  There  all  the  rest  of  his  good  comrades  perished, 
but  wind  and  water  brought  him  here.  I  loved  and 
cherished  him,  and  often  said  that  I  would  make  him 
an  immortal,  young  forever.  But  since  the  will  of 
aegis-bearing  Zeus  no  god  may  cross  or  set  at  naught, 
let  him  depart,  if  Zeus  commands  and  bids  it,  over 
the  barren  sea  !  Only  I  will  not  aid  him  on  his  way, 
for  I  have  no  ships  fitted  with  oars,  nor  crews  to  bear 
him  over  the  broad  ocean-ridges  ;  but  I  will  freely 
give  him  counsel  and  not  hide  how  he  may  come 
unharmed  to  his  own  native  land." 

Then  said  to  her  the  guide,  the  Speedy-comer  : 
"  Even  so,  then,  let  him  go !  Beware  the  wrath  of 
Zeus  !  Let  not  his  anger  by  and  by  grow  hot  against 
you!" 

So  saying,  the  powerful  Speedy-comer  went  his  way, 
while  the  potent  nymph  hastened  to  brave  Odysseus, 
obedient  to  the  words  of  Zeus.  She  found  him  sitting 
on  the  shore,  and  from  his  eyes  the  tears  were  never 
dried ;  his  sweet  life  ebbed  away  in  longings  for  his 
home,  because  the  nymph  pleased  him  no  more.  And 
yet  by  night  he  always  lay,  though  by  constraint, 
within  the  hollow  grotto,  unwilling  by  her  willing 
side ;  but  in  the  daytime,  sitting  on  the  rocks  and 
sands,  with  tears  and  groans  and  griefs  racking  his 
heart,  he  watched  the  barren  sea  and  poured  forth 
tears.     Now  drawing  near,  the  heavenly  goddess  said  : 


V.  160-191.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  77 

"  Unhappy  man,  sorrow  no  longer  here,  nor  let 
your  days  be  wasted,  for  I  at  last  will  freely  let  you 
go.  Come,  then,  hew  the  long  timbers  and  fashion 
with  your  axe  a  broad-beamed  raft ;  build  a  high  bul- 
wark round,  and  let  it  bear  you  over  the  misty  sea. 
I  will  supply  you  bread,  water,  and  the  ruddy  wine 
you  like,  to  keep  off  hunger ;  I  will  provide  you 
clothing  and  will  send  a  wind  to  follow,  that  you 
may  come  unharmed  to  your  own  native  land,  —  if 
the  gods  will,  who  hold  the  open  sky,  for  they  are 
mightier  than  I  to  purpose  or  fulfill." 

As  she  said  this,  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  shud- 
dered, and  speaking  in  winged  words  he  said : 

"  Some  other  purpose,  goddess,  you  surely  have  in 
this  than  aid  upon  my  way,  when  you  thus  bid  me 
cross  on  a  raft  that  great  gulf  of  the  sea  —  terrible, 
toilsome  —  which  trim  ships  cannot  cross,  although 
they  speed  so  fast,  glad  in  the  breeze  of  Zeus.  But  I 
will  never,  notwithstanding  what  you  say,  set  foot 
upon  a  raft  till  you  consent,  goddess,  to  swear  a  sol- 
emn oath  that  you  are  not  meaning  now  to  plot  me 
further  woe." 

He  spoke  ;  Calypso,  the  heavenly  goddess,  smiled, 
caressed  him  with  her  hand  and  spoke  thus,  saying  : 

u  You  are  a  cunning  rogue,  never  inclined  to  folly  ! 
How  could  you  think  of  uttering  such  words  !  Hear 
this,  then,  Earth,  and  the  broad  Heaven  above,  and 
thou  down-flowing  water  of  Styx !  —  which  is  the 
strongest  and  most  dreaded  oath  among  the  blessed 
gods,  —  I  am  not  meaning  now  to  plot  you  further 
woe.  Nay,  that  I  have  in  mind,  and  that  I  here  pro- 
pose, which  I  would  seek  for  my  own  good  were  such 
need  laid  on  me.  Indeed,  my  thoughts  are  upright ; 
no  iron  heart  is  in  my  breast,  but  one  of  pity." 


78  THE   ODYSSEY.  [V.  192-224. 

So  saying,  the  heavenly  goddess  led  the  way  in 
haste,  and  he  walked  after  in  the  footsteps  of  the  god- 
dess. And  now  to  the  hollow  grotto  came  the  god- 
dess and  the  man,  and  he  sat  down  upon  the  chair 
whence  Hermes  had  arisen.  The  nymph  then  set  be- 
fore him  all  food  to  eat  and  drink  which  men  are 
wont  to  use,  and  took  her  seat  over  against  princely 
Odysseus,  while  maids  set  forth  for  her  ambrosia  and 
nectar ;  then  on  the  food  spread  out  before  them  they 
laid  hands.  So  after  they  were  satisfied  with  food 
and  drink,  then  thus  began  Calypso,  the  heavenly 
goddess  : 

"  High-born  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus,  do 
you  so  wish  to  go  at  once  home  to  your  native  land  ? 
Farewell,  then,  even  so !  But  if  at  heart  you  knew 
how  many  woes  you  must  endure  before  you  reach 
that  native  land,  you  would  remain  with  me,  become 
the  guardian  of  my  home,  and  be  immortal,  spite  of 
your  wish  to  see  your  wife,  whom  you  are  always 
longing  for  day  after  day.  Yet  not  inferior  to  her  I 
count  myself,  either  in  form  or  stature.  Surely  it  is 
not  likely  that  mortal  women  rival  the  immortals  in 
form  and  beauty." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said  :  "  Pow- 
erful goddess,  do  not  be  wroth  at  what  I  say.  Full 
well  I  know  that  heedful  Penelope,  compared  with  you, 
is  poor  to  look  upon  in  height  and  beauty  ;  for  she  is 
human,  but  you  are  an  immortal,  young  forever.  Yet 
even  so,  I  wish  —  yes,  every  day  I  long  —  to  travel 
home  and  see  my  day  of  coming.  And  if  again  one 
of  the  gods  shall  wreck  me  on  the  wine-dark  sea,  I 
will  be  patient  still,  bearing  within  my  breast  a  heart 
well-tried  with  trouble ;  for  in  times  past  much  have  I 
borne  and  much  have  toiled,  in  waves  and  war ;  to 
that,  let  this  be  added." 


V.  225-259.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  79 

As  he  thus  spoke,  the  sun  went  down  and  darkness 
came  ;  and  so  the  two,  hid  in  the  hollow  grotto,  joyed 
in  their  love,  abiding  by  each  other. 

Soon  as  the  early  rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared, 
quickly  Odysseus  dressed  in  coat  and  tunic ;  and  the 
nymph  dressed  herself  in  a  long  silvery  robe,  finespun 
and  graceful,  she  bound  a  beautiful  golden  girdle 
round  her  waist,  and  put  a  veil  upon  her  head.  Then 
she  prepared  to  send  forth  brave  Odysseus.  She  gave 
him  a  great  axe,  which  fitted  well  his  hands  ;  it  was  an 
axe  of  bronze,  sharp  on  both  sides,  and  had  a  beauti- 
ful olive  handle,  strongly  fastened ;  she  gave  him  too 
a  polished  adze.  And  now  she  led  the  way  to  the 
farther  shore  of  the  island  where  the  trees  grew  tall, 
alder  and  poplar  and  sky-stretching  pine,  long-sea- 
soned, very  dry,  that  would  float  lightly.  When  she 
had  shown  him  where  the  trees  grew  tall,  homeward 
Calypso  went,  the  heavenly  goddess,  while  he  began  to 
cut  the  logs.  The  work  was  quickly  done.  Twenty  in 
all  he  felled,  and  trimmed  them  with  the  axe,  smoothed 
them  with  skill,  and  leveled  them  to  the  line.  Mean- 
while, Calypso,  the  heavenly  goddess,  brought  him  au- 
gers, and  so  he  bored  each  piece  and  fitted  all,  and 
then  with  pins  and  crossbeams  fastened  the  whole  to- 
gether. As  when  a  man  skillful  in  carpentry  lays  out 
the  floor  of  a  broad  freight-ship,  of  such  a  size  Odys- 
seus built  his  broad-beamed  raft.  He  raised  a  bul- 
wark, set  with  many  ribs,  and  finished  with  long  tim- 
bers on  the  top.  He  made  a  mast  and  sail-yard  fitted 
to  it ;  he  made  a  rudder,  too,  with  which  to  steer. 
And  then  he  caulked  the  raft  from  end  to  end  with 
willow  withes,  to  guard  against  the  water,  and  much 
material  he  used.  Meanwhile,  Calypso,  the  heavenly 
goddess,  brought  him  cloth  to  make  the  sail,  and  well 


80  THE    ODYSSEY.  [V.  260-291. 

did  he  contrive  this  too.  Braces  and  halyards  and 
sheet-ropes  he  set  up  in  her  and  then  with  levers 
heaved  her  down  into  the  sacred  sea. 

The  fourth  day  came,  and  he  had  finished  all.  So 
on  the  fifth  divine  Calypso  sent  him  from  the  island, 
putting  upon  him  fragrant  clothes  and  giving  him  a 
bath.  A  skin  the  goddess  gave  him,  filled  with  dark 
wine,  a  second  large  one  full  of  water,  and  some  pro- 
vision in  a  sack.  She  put  upon  the  raft  whatever  dain- 
ties pleased  him  and  sent  along  his  course  a  fair  and 
gentle  breeze.  Joyfully  to  the  breeze  royal  Odysseus 
spread  his  sail,  and  with  his  rudder  skillfully  he  steered 
from  where  he  sat.  No  sleep  fell  on  his  eyelids  as  he 
gazed  upon  the  Pleiads,  on  Bootes  which  sets  late,  and 
on  the  Bear  which  men  call  Wagon  too,  which  turns 
around  one  spot,  watching  Orion,  and  alone  does  not 
dip  in  the  Ocean-stream.  For  Calypso,  the  heavenly 
goddess,  bade  him  to  cross  the  sea  with  the  Bear  upon 
his  left ;  so  seventeen  days  he  sailed  across  the  sea. 
On  the  eighteenth  there  came  in  sight  the  dim  heights 
of  Phaeacia,  where  nearest  him  it  lay ;  it  seemed  a 
shield  laid  on  the  misty  sea. 

But  now  the  mighty  Earth-shaker,  coming  from 
Ethiopia,  spied  him  afar  from  the  mountains  of  the 
Solymi ;  for  Odysseus  came  in  sight  as  he  sailed  along 
the  sea.  And  Poseidon  grew  more  wroth  in  spirit, 
and  shaking  his  head  he  muttered  to  his  heart : 

"  Aha !  so  then  the  gods  have  changed  their  pur- 
poses about  Odysseus,  while  I  was  with  the  Ethiopians ! 
And  here  he  is  close  to  the  land  of  the  Phaeacians, 
where  he  is  destined  to  escape  from  the  great  coil  of 
evil  that  surrounds  him.  Yet  still  I  hope  to  plunge 
him  into  sufficient  trouble." 

So  saying,  he  gathered  clouds  and  stirred  the  deep, 


V.  292-325.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  81 

grasping  the  trident  in  his  hands ;  he  started  tempests 
of  wind  from  every  side,. and  covered  with  his  clouds 
both  land  and  sea ;  night  broke  from  heaven  ;  forth 
rushed  together  Eurus  and  Notus,  hard-blowing  Ze- 
phyrus,  and  sky-born  Boreas,  rolling  up  heavy  waves. 
Then  did  Odysseus'  knees  grow  feeble,  and  his  very 
soul,  and  in  dismay  he  said  to  his  stout  heart : 

"  Ah,  woe  is  me  !  What  will  become  of  me  at  last  ? 
I  fear  that  all  the  goddess  told  was  true,  when  she  de- 
clared that  on  the  sea,  before  I  reached  my  native  land, 
I  should  be  filled  with  sorrow.  Now  all  is  come  to  pass. 
Ah,  with  what  clouds  Zeus  overcasts  the  open  sky ! 
He  stirred  the  deep,  and  tempests  of  wind  hurry  from 
every  side.  Swift  death  is  sure.  Thrice,  four  times 
happy  Danaans  who  in  the  time  gone  by  fell  on  the 
plain  of  Troy  to  please  the  sons  of  Atreus  !  Would  I 
had  died  there  too,  and  met  my  doom  the  clay  a  multi- 
tude of  Trojans  hurled  at  me  brazen  spears  over  the 
body  of  the  son  of  Peleus  !  Then  had  I  found  a  burial, 
and  the  Achaean s  had  borne  my  name  afar.  Now  I 
must  be  cut  off  by  an  inglorious  death." 

As  thus  he  spoke,  a  great  wave  broke  on  high  and 
madly  plunging  whirled  his  raft  around  ;  far  from  the 
raft  he  fell  and  sent  the  rudder  flying  from  his  hand. 
The  mast  snapped  in  the  middle  under  the  fearful 
tempest  of  opposing  winds  that  struck,  and  far  in  the 
sea  canvas  and  sail-yard  fell.  The  water  held  him 
long  submerged ;  he  could  not  rise  at  once  after  the 
crash  of  the  great  wave,  for  the  clothing  which  divine 
Calypso  gave  him  weighed  him  down.  At  length, 
however,  he  came  up,  spitting  from  out  his  mouth  the 
bitter  brine  which  plentifully  trickled  from  his  head. 
Yet  even  then,  spent  as  he  was,  he  did  £jlt  •  £et  his 
raft,  but  pushing  on  amongst  the  wav»    +^jid  hold  of 


82  THE   ODYSSEY.  [V.  326-356. 

her,  and  in  her  middle  got  a  seat  and  so  escaped 
death's  ending.  But  her  the  great  wave  drove  along 
its  current,  up  and  down.  As  when  in  autumn  Boreas 
drives  thistleheads  along  the  plain,  and  close  they 
cling  together,  so  the  winds  drove  her  up  and  down 
the  deep.  One  moment  Notus  tossed  her  on  for  Bo- 
reas to  drive ;  the  next  would  Eurus  give  her  up  for 
Zephyr  us  to  chase. 

But  the  daughter  of  Cadmus  saw  him,  fair-ankled 
Ino,  that  goddess  pale  who  formerly  was  mortal  and 
of  human  speech,  but  now  in  the  water's  depths  shares 
the  gods'  honors.  She  pitied  Odysseus,  cast  away 
and  meeting  sorrow,  and  like  a  petrel  on  the  wing  she 
rose  from  the  sea's  trough,  and  lighting  on  his  strong- 
built  raft  spoke  to  him  thus  : 

"  Unhappy  man,  why  is  it  earth-shaking  Poseidon 
is  so  furiously  enraged  that  he  makes  many  ills  spring 
up  around  you  ?  Destroy  you  shall  he  not,  however 
wroth  he  be  !  Only  do  this,  —  you  seem  to  me  not 
to  lack  understanding.  Strip  off  these  clothes,  and 
leave  your  raft  for  winds  to  carry,  then  strike  out 
with  your  arms  and  seek  a  landing  on  the  Phaeacian 
coast,  where  fate  allows  you  safety.  Here,  spread 
this  wimple  underneath  your  breast.  It  is  immortal ; 
have  no  fear  of  suffering  or  death.  But  when  your 
hands  shall  touch  the  shore,  untie  and  fling  the  wim- 
ple into  the  wine-dark  sea,  well  off  the  shore,  and  so 
depart." 

Saying  this,  the  goddess  gave  the  wimple,  and  she 
herself  plunged  back  into  the  surging  sea,  in  likeness 
of  a  petrel.  The  dark  wave  closed  around.  Then 
hesitated  long-tried  royal  Odysseus,  and  in  dismay  he 
said  to  his  *n°it  heart : 

"  Ah  meg*  "1  fear  that  here  again  an  immortal  plots 


V.  357-391.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  83 

me  harm  in  bidding  me  leave  my  raft.  I  will  not  yet 
obey ;  for  in  the  distance  I  saw  land,  where  it  was  said 
my  safety  lies.  This  I  will  do,  for  best  it  seems :  so 
long  as  the  beams  hold  in  the  fastenings,  here  I  will 
stay  and  bide  what  I  must  bear  ;  but  when  the  surge 
batters  my  raft  to  pieces,  then  I  will  swim.  There  is 
no  better  plan." 

AVhile  he  thus  doubted  in  his  mind  and  heart,  earth- 
shaking  Poseidon  raised  a  great  wave,  gloomy  and 
grievous,  and  with  bending  crest,  and  launched  it  on 
him.  And  as  a  gusty  wind  tosses  a  heap  of  grain 
when  it  is  dry,  and  some  it  scatters  one  way,  some  an- 
other, so  were  the  long  beams  scattered.  But  Odys- 
seus mounting  a  beam,  as  if  he  rode  a  steed,  stripped 
off  the  clothing  which  divine  Calypso  gave,  spread 
quickly  the  wimple  underneath  his  breast,  and  plunged 
down  headlong  in  the  sea,  with  hands  outstretched, 
ready  to  swim.  The  great  Earth-shaker  spied  him, 
and  shaking  his  head  he  muttered  to  his  heart : 

"  Thus,  after  meeting  many  ills,  be  tossed  about  the 
sea  until  you  join  a  people  who  are  favorites  of  Zeus ; 
but  even  then,  I  trust,  you  will  not  laugh  at  danger." 

Saying  this,  he  lashed  his  full-maned  horses  and 
came  to  Aegae,  where  his  lordly  dwelling  stands. 

And  now  Athene,  daughter  of  Zeus,  formed  a  new 
plan.  She  barred  the  pathway  of  the  other  winds, 
bade  them  to  cease  and  all  be  laid  to  rest ;  but  she 
roused  bustling  Boreas  and  before  it  broke  the  waves, 
that  safely  among  the  oar-loving  Phaeacians  might 
come  high-born  Odysseus,  freed  from  death  and  doom. 

Then  two  nights  and  two  days  on  the  resistless 
waves  he  drifted  ;  many  a  time  his  heart  faced  death. 
But  when  the  fair-haired  dawn  brought  the  third  day, 
then  the  wind  ceased ;  there  came  a  breathless  calm  ; 


84  THE   ODYSSEY.  [V.  392-424. 

and  close  at  hand  he  spied  the  coast,  as  he  cast  a  keen 
glance  forward,  upborne  on  a  great  wave.  As  when 
the  precious  life  is  watched  by  children  in  a  father, 
who  lies  in  sickness,  suffering  great  pain  and  slowly 
wasting,  —  for  a  hostile  power  assails  him,  —  and 
then  the  one  thus  prized  the  gods  set  free  from  dan- 
ger ;  so  precious  in  Odysseus'  eyes  appeared  the  land 
and  trees.  Onward  he  swam,  impatient  for  his  feet 
to  touch  the  ground.  But  when  he  was  as  far  away 
as  one  can  call,  he  heard  a  pounding  of  the  ocean 
on  the  ledges  ;  for  the  great  waves  roared  as  on  the 
barren  land  they  madly  dashed,  and  all  was  whirled 
in  spray.  There  was  no  harbor  here  to  hold  a  slup, 
no  open  roadstead  ;  only  projecting  bluffs,  ledges, 
and  reefs.  At  this  Odysseus'  knees  grew  feeble,  and 
his  very  soul,  and  in  dismay  he  said  to  his  stout 
heart : 

"  Alas  !  when  Zeus  now  lets  me  see  unlooked-for 
land,  and  forcing  my  way  along  the  gulf  I  finally 
reach  its  end,  no  landing  anywhere  appears  out  of  the 
foaming  sea.  Outside  are  jagged  reefs  ;  around  thun- 
der the  surging  waves,  and  smooth  and  steep  rises  the 
rocky  shore.  To  the  edge  the  sea  is  deep,  and  possi- 
ble it  is  not  to  get  a  footing  with  both  feet  and  so  es- 
cape disaster.  If  I  should  try  to  land,  great  sweep- 
ing waves  might  dash  me  on  the  solid  rock  ;  useless 
would  the  attempt  be !  But  if  I  swim  still  farther, 
hoping  to  find  a  sloping  shore  and  harbors  off  the  sea, 
I  fear  a  sweeping  storm  may  bear  me  yet  again  along 
the  swarming  sea,  loudly  lamenting  ;  or  God  may  send 
upon  me  a  monster  of  the  deep,  —  and  many  such 
great  Amphi trite  breeds,  —  for  I  know  how  angry  is 
the  great  Land-shaker." 

While  he  thus  doubted  in  his  mind  and  heart,  a 


V.  425-456.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  85 

huge  wave  bore  him  onward  toward  the  rugged  shore. 
There  would  his  skin  have  been  stripped  off  and  his 
bones  broken,  had  not  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene, 
given  him  counsel.  Struggling,  he  grasped  the  rock 
with  both  his  hands  and  clung  there,  groaning,  till 
the  great  wave  passed.  That  one  he  thus  escaped, 
but  the  back-flowing  water  struck  him  again,  still 
struggling,  and  swept  him  out  to  sea.  And  just  as, 
when  a  polyp  is  torn  from  out  its  bed,  about  its  suck- 
ers clustering  pebbles  cling,  so  on  the  rocks  pieces  of 
skin  were  stripped  from  his  strong  hands.  The  great 
wave  covered  him.  Then  miserably,  before  his  time, 
Odysseus  would  have  died,  if  clear-eyed  Athene  had 
not  given  him  ready  thought.  Rising  beyond  the 
waves  which  thundered  on  the  coast,  he  swam  along 
outside,  eying  the  land,  in  hopes  to  find  a  sloping 
shore  and  harbors  off  the  sea.  But  when,  as  he  swam, 
he  reached  the  mouth  of  a  fair-flowing  river,  there 
the  ground  seemed  most  fit,  for  it  was  clear  of  stones 
and  sheltered  from  the  breeze.  He  felt  the  river 
flowing  forth,  and  in  his  heart  he  prayed  : 

"  Hearken,  O  lord,  whoe'er  thou  art !  Thee,  long 
desired,  I  find,  when  flying  from  the  sea  and  from 
Poseidon's  threats.  Respected  even  of  immortal  gods 
is  he  who  comes  a  fugitive,  as  I  here  now  come  to  thy 
current  and  thy  knees  through  weary  toil.  Show 
pity,  lord !     I  call  myself  thy  suppliant." 

He  spoke,  and  the  god  straightway  stayed  the 
stream  and  checked  the  waves,  before  him  made  a 
calm,  and  brought  him  safely  into  the  river's  mouth. 
Both  knees  hung  loose,  and  both  his  sturdy  arms,  for 
by  the  sea  his  spirit  had  been  broken.  His  body  was 
all  swollen,  and  water  gushed  in  streams  out  of  his 
mouth  and  nostrils.     So,  breathless  and  speechless,  in 


86  THE   ODYSSEY.  [V.  457-488. 

a  swoon  he  lay  and  dire  fatigue  o'ercame  him.  But 
when  he  gained  his  breath,  and  in  his  breast  the  spirit 
rallied,  then  he  unbound  the  wimple  of  the  goddess 
and  dropped  it  in  the  river  running  out  to  sea ;  and 
back  a  great  wave  bore  it  down  the  stream,  and  Ino 
soon  received  it  in  her  friendly  hands.  But  he,  re- 
treating from  the  river,  lay  down  among  the  rushes 
and  kissed  the  bounteous  earth,  and  in  dismay  he  said 
to  his  stout  heart : 

"  Ah  me !  What  shall  I  do  ?  What  will  become 
of  me  even  now  ?  If  by  the  stream  I  watch  through- 
out the  weary  night,  may  not  the  bitter  frost  and  the 
fresh  dew  together  after  this  swoon  end  my  exhausted 
life  ?  The  breeze  from  off  a  river  blows  cool  toward 
early  morning.  But  if  I  climb  the  hill-side  up  to  the 
dusky  wood  and  sleep  in  the  thick  bushes,  —  suppos- 
ing that  the  chill  and  weariness  depart  and  pleasant 
sleep  come  on,  —  I  am  afraid  I  may  become  the  wild 
beasts'  prey  and  prize." 

Yet  on  reflecting  thus,  this  seemed  the  better  way : 
he  hastened  therefore  to  the  wood.  This  he  found 
near  the  water,  with  open  space  around.  He  crept 
under  a  pair  of  shrubs  sprung  from  a  single  spot ;  the 
one  was  wild,  the  other  common,  olive.  These  no 
force  of  wind  with  its  chill  breath  could  pierce,  no 
sunbeams  smite,  nor  rain  pass  through,  they  grew  so 
thickly  intertwined  with  one  another.  Under  them 
crept  Odysseus,  and  quickly  with  his  hands  he  scraped 
a  bed  together,  an  ample  one,  for  a  thick  fall  of  leaves 
was  there,  enough  to  shelter  two  or  three  men  in 
winter-time,  however  severe  the  weather.  This  long- 
tried  royal  Odysseus  saw  with  joy,  and  lay  down  in 
the  midst,  heaping  the  fallen  leaves  above.  As  a  man 
hides  a  brand  in  a  dark  bed  of  ashes,  at  some  out- 


V.  489-493.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  87 

lying  farm  where  neighbors  are  not  near,  hoarding  a 
seed  of  fire  to  save  his  seeking  elsewhere,  even  so  did 
Odysseus  hide  himself  in  leaves ;  and  on  his  eyes 
Athene  poured  a  sleep,  quickly  to  ease  him  from  the 
fatigue  of  toil,  letting  his  eyelids  close. 


VI. 

THE   LANDING    IN   PHAEACIA. 

Thus  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  slumbered  here, 
heavy  with  sleep  and  toil;  but  Athene  went  to  the 
land  and  town  of  the  Phaeacians.  This  people  once 
in  ancient  times  lived  in  the  open  Highlands,  near  that 
rude  folk  the  Cyclops,  who  often  plundered  them,  be- 
ing in  strength  more  powerful  than  they.  Moving 
them  thence,  godlike  Nausithoiis,  their  leader,  estab- 
lished them  at  Scheria,  far  from  toiling  men.  He  ran 
a  wall  around  the  town,  built  houses  there,  made  tem- 
ples for  the  gods,  and  laid  out  farms  ;  but  Nausithoiis 
had  met  his  doom  and  gone  to  the  house  of  Hades,  and 
Alcinoiis  now  was  reigning,  trained  in  wisdom  by  the 
gods.  To  this  man's  dwelling  came  the  goddess,  clear- 
eyed  Athene,  planning  a  safe  return  for  brave  Odys- 
seus. She  hastened  to  a  chamber,  richly  wrought,  in 
which  a  maid  was  sleeping,  of  form  and  beauty  like 
the  immortals,  Nausicaa,  daughter  of  generous  Alci- 
noiis. Near  by  two  damsels,  dowered  with  beauty  by 
the  Graces,  slept  by  the  threshold,  one  on  either  hand. 
The  shining  doors  were  shut ;  but  Athene,  like  a 
breath  of  air,  moved  to  the  maid's  couch,  stood  by  her 
head,  and  thus  addressed  her,  —  taking  the  likeness 
of  the  daughter  of  Dymas,  the  famous  seaman,  a 
maiden  just  Nausicaa's  age,  dear  to  her  heart.  Taking 
her  guise,  thus  spoke  clear-eyed  Athene  : 

"Nausicaa,  how  did  your  mother  bear  a  child  so 


VI.  26-56.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  89 

heedless  ?  Your  gay  clothes  lie  uncared  for,  though 
the  wedding  time  is  near,  when  you  must  wear  fine 
clothes  yourself  and  furnish  them  to  those  that  may 
attend  you.  From  things  like  these  a  good  repute 
arises,  and  father  and  honored  mother  are  made  glad. 
Then  let  us  go  a-washing  at  the  dawn  of  day,  and  I 
will  go  to  help,  that  you  may  soon  be  ready ;  for 
really  not  much  longer  will  you  be  a  maid.  Already 
you  have  for  suitors  the  chief  ones  of  the  land 
throughout  Phaeacia,  where  you  too  were  born.  Come, 
then,  beg  your  good  father  early  in  the  morning  to 
harness  the  mules  and  cart,  so  as  to  carry  the  men's 
clothes,  gowns,  and  bright-hued  rugs.  Yes,  and  for 
you  yourself  it  is  more  decent  so  than  setting  forth 
on  foot ;  the  pools  are  far  from  the  town." 

Saying  this,  clear-eyed  Athene  passed  away,  off  to 
Olympus,  where  they  say  the  dwelling  of  the  gods 
stands  fast  forever.     Never  with  winds  is  it  disturbed, 

# 

nor  by  the  rain  made  wet,  nor  does  the  snow  come 
near;  but  everywhere  the  upper  air  spreads  cloudless, 
and  a  bright  radiance  plays  over  all ;  and  there  the 
blessed  gods  are  happy  all  their  days.  Thither  now 
came  the  clear-eyed  one,  when  she  had  spoken  with 
the  maid. 

Soon  bright-throned  morning  came,  and  waked  fair- 
robed  Nausicaa.  She  marveled  at  the  dream,  and 
hastened  through  the  house  to  tell  it  to  her  parents, 
her  dear  father  and  her  mother.  She  found  them 
still  in-doors :  her  mother  sat  by  the  hearth  among 
the  waiting-women,  spinning  sea-purple  yarn  ;  she  met 
her  father  at  the  door,  just  going  forth  to  join  the 
famous  princes  at  the  council,  to  which  the  high 
Phaeacians  summoned  him.  So  standing  close  beside 
him,  she  said  to  her  dear  father  : 


90  THE   ODYSSEY.  [VI.  57-86. 

"Papa  dear,  could  you  not  have  the  wagon  har- 
nessed for  me,  —  the  high  one,  with  good  wheels,  — 
to  take  my  nice  clothes  to  the  river  to  be  washed, 
which  now  are  lying  dirty?  Surely  for  you  yourself  it 
is  but  proper,  when  you  are  with  the  first  men  holding 
councils,  that  you  should  wear  clean  clothing.  Five 
good  sons  too  are  here  at  home,  —  two  married,  and 
three  merry  young  men  still,  —  and  they  are  always 
wanting  to  go  to  the  dance  wearing  fresh  clothes. 
And  this  is  all  a  trouble  on  my  mind." 

Such  were  her  words,  for  she  was  shy  of  naming  the 
glad  marriage  to  her  father  ;  but  he  understood  it  all, 
and  answered  thus : 

"  I  do  not  grudge  the  mules,  my  child,  nor  anything 
beside.  Go !  Quickly  shall  the  servants  harness  the 
wagon  for  you,  the  high  one,  with  good  wheels,  fitted 
with  rack  above." 

Saying  this,  he  called  to  the  servants,  who  gave 
heed.  Out  in  the  court  they  made  the  easy  mule-cart 
ready ;  they  brought  the  mules,  and  yoked  them  to  the 
wagon.  The  maid  took  from  her  room  her  pretty 
clothing,  and  stowed  it  in  the  polished  wagon  ;  her 
mother  put  in  a  chest  food  the  maid  liked,  of  every 
kind,  put  dainties  in,  and  poured  some  wine  into  a 
goat-skin  bottle,  —  the  maid,  meanwhile,  had  got  into 
the  wagon,  —  and  gave  her  in  a  golden  flask  some 
liquid  oil,  that  she  might  bathe  and  anoint  herself, 
she  and  the  waiting-women.  Nausicaa  took  the  whip 
and  the  bright  reins,  and  cracked  the  whip  to  start. 
There  was  a  clatter  of  the  mules,  and  steadily  they 
pulled,  drawing  the  clothing  and  the  maid,  —  yet  not 
alone  ;  beside  her  went  the  waiting-women  too. 

When  now  they  came  to  the  fair  river's  current, 
where  the  pools  were  always  full,  —  for  in  abundance 


VI.  87-119.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  91 

clear  water  bubbles  from  beneath  to  cleanse  the  foul- 
est stains,  —  they  turned  the  mules  loose  from  the 
wagon,  and  let  them  stray  along  the  eddying  stream, 
to  crop  the  honeyed  pasturage.  Then  from  the  wagon 
they  took  the  clothing  in  their  arms,  carried  it  into 
the  dark  water,  and  stamped  it  in  the  pits  with  rivalry 
in  speed.  And  after  they  had  washed  and  cleansed 
it  of  all  stains,  they  spread  it  carefully  along  the  shore, 
just  where  the  waves  washed  up  the  pebbles  on  the 
beach.  Then  bathing  and  anointing  with  the  oil, 
they  presently  took  dinner  on  the  river  bank  and 
waited  for  the  clothes  to  dry  in  the  sunshine.  And 
when  they  were  refreshed  with  food,  the  maids  and 
she,  they  then  began  to  play  at  ball,  throwing  their 
wimples  off.  White-armed  Xausicaa  led  their  sport ; 
and  as  the  huntress  Artemis  goes  down  a  mountain, 
down  long  Taygetus  or  Erymanthus,  exulting  in  the 
boars  and  the  swift  deer,  while  round  her  sport  the 
woodland  nymphs,  daughters  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus, 
and  glad  is  Leto's  heart,  for  all  the  rest  her  child 
o'ertops  by  head  and  brow,  and  easily  marked  is  she, 
though  all  are  fair  ;  so  did  this  virgin  pure  excel  her 
women. 

But  when  Nausicaa  thought  to  turn  toward  home  I  \V 
once  more,  to  yoke  the  mules  and  fold  up  the  clean 
clothes,  then  a  new  plan  the  goddess  formed,  clear- 
eyed  Athene  ;  for  she  would  have  Odysseus  wake  and 
see  the  bright-eyed  maid,  who  might  to  the  Phaeacian 
city  show  the  way.  Just  then  the  princess  tossed  the 
ball  to  one  of  her  women,  and  missing  her  it  fell  in 
the  deep  eddy.  Thereat  they  screamed  aloud.  Royal 
Odysseus  woke,  and  sitting  up  debated  in  his  mind 
and  heart : 

"  Alas !     To  what  men's   land  am   I   come  now  ? 


92  THE   ODYSSEY.  [VI.  120-149. 

Lawless  and  savage  are  they,  with  no  regard  for 
right,  or  are  they  kind  to  strangers  and  reverent 
toward  the  gods  ?  It  was  as  if  there  came  to  me  the 
delicate  voice  of  maids  —  nymphs,  it  may  be,  who 
haunt  the  craggy  peaks  of  hills,  the  springs  of  streams 
and  grassy  marshes ;  or  am  I  now,  perhaps,  near  men 
of  human  speech  ?  Suppose  I  make  a  trial  for  myself, 
and  see." 

So  saying,  royal  Odysseus  crept  from  the  thicket, 
but  with  his  strong  hand  broke  a  spray  of  leaves 
from  the  close  wood,  to  be  a  covering  round  his  body 
for  his  nakedness.  He  set  off  like  a  lion  that  is  bred 
among  the  hills  and  trusts  its  strength ;  onward  it 
goes,  beaten  with  rain  and  wind;  its  two  eyes  glare  ; 
and  now  in  search  of  oxen  or  of  sheep  it  moves,  or 
tracking  the  wild  deer;  its  belly  bids  it  make  trial 
of  the  flocks,  even  by  entering  the  guarded  folds  ;  so 
was  Odysseus  about  to  meet  those  fair-haired  maids, 
all  naked  though  he  was,  for  need  constrained  him. 
To  them  he  seemed  a  loathsome  sight,  befouled  with 
brine.  They  hurried  off,  one  here,  one  there,  over 
the  stretching  sands.  Only  the  daughter  of  Alcinoiis 
stayed,  for  in  her  breast  Athene  had  put  courage  and 
from  her  limbs  took  fear.  Steadfast  she  stood  to 
meet  him.  And  now  Odysseus  doubted  whether  to 
make  his  suit  by  clasping  the  knees  of  the  bright-eyed 
maid,  or  where  he  stood,  aloof,  in  winning  words  to 
make  that  suit,  and  try  if  she  would  show  the  town 
and  give  him  clothing.  Reflecting  thus,  it  seemed  the 
better  way  to  make  his  suit  in  winning  words,  aloof  ; 
for  fear  if  he  should  clasp  her  knees,  the  maid  might 
be  offended.  Forthwith  he  spoke,  a  winning  and 
shrewd  speech  : 

"  I  am  your  suppliant,  princess.     Are  you  some  god 


VI.  150-182.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  93 

or  mortal?  If  one  of  the  gods  who  hold  the  open 
sky,  to  Artemis,  daughter  of  mighty  Zeus,  in  beauty, 
height,  and  bearing  I  find  you  likest.  But  if  you  are  a 
mortal,  living  on  the  earth,  most  happy  are  your  father 
and  your  honored  mother,  most  happy  your  brothers 
also.  Surely  their  hearts  ever  grow  warm  with  plea- 
sure over  you,  when  watching  such  a  blossom  moving 
in  the  dance.  And  then  exceeding  happy  he,  beyond 
all  others,  who  shall  with  gifts  prevail  and  lead  you 
home.  For  I  never  before  saw  such  a  being  with  these 
eyes  —  no  man,  no  woman.  I  am  amazed  to  see.  At 
Delos  once,  by  Apollo's  altar,  something  like  you  I 
noticed,  a  young  palm-shoot  springing  up ;  for  thither 
too  I  came,  and  a  great  troop  was  with  me,  upon  a 
journey  where  I  was  to  meet  with  bitter  trials.  And 
just  as  when  I  looked  on  that  I  marveled  long  within, 
since  never  before  sprang  such  a  stalk  from  earth  ;  so, 
lady,  I  admire  and  marvel  now  at  you,  and  greatly 
fear  to  touch  your  knees.  Yet  grievous  woe  is  on 
me.  Yesterday,  after  twenty  days,  I  escaped  from 
the  wine-dark  sea,  and  all  that  time  the  waves  and 
boisterous  winds  bore  me  away  from  the  island  of 
Ogygia.  Now  some  god  cast  me  here,  that  probably 
here  also  I  may  meet  with  trouble ;  for  I  do  not 
think  trouble  will  cease,  but  much  the  gods  will  first 
accomplish.  Then,  princess,  have  compassion,  for  it 
is  you  to  whom  through  many  grievous  toils  I  first  am 
come ;  none  else  I  know  of  all  who  own  this  city  and 
this  land.  Show  me  the  town,  and  give  me  a  rag  to 
throw  around  me,  if  you  had  perhaps  on  coming  here 
some  wrapper  for  your  linen.  And  may  the  gods 
grant  all  that  in  your  thoughts  you  long  for  :  husband 
and  home  and  true  accord  may  they  bestow ;  for  a 
better  and  higher  gift  than  this  there  cannot  be,  when 


94  THE   ODYSSEY.  [VI.  183-215. 

with  accordant  aims  man  and  wife  have  a  home.  Great 
grief  it  is  to  foes  and  joy  to  friends ;  but  they  them- 
selves best  know  its  meaning." 

Then  answered  him  white-armed  Nausicaa  :  "  Stran- 
ger, because  you  do  not  seem  a  common,  senseless  per- 
son, —  and  Olympian  Zeus  himself  distributes  fortune 
to  mankind  and  gives  to  high  and  low  even  as  he  wills 
to  each  ;  and  this  he  gave  to  you,  and  you  must  bear 
it  therefore,  —  now  you  have  reached  our  city  and 
our  land,  you  shall  not  lack  for  clothes  nor  anything 
besides  which  it  is  fit  a  hard-pressed  suppliant  should 
find.  I  will  point  out  the  town  and  tell  its  people's 
name.  The  Phaeacians  own  this  city  and  this  land, 
and  I  am  the  daughter  of  generous  Alcinoiis,  on 
whom  the  might  and  power  of  the  Phaeacians  rests." 

She  spoke,  and  called  her  fair-haired  waiting-wo- 
men :  "  My  women,  stay  !  Why  do  you  run  because 
you  saw  a  man?  You  surely  do  not  think  him  evil- 
minded.  The  man  is  not  alive,  and  never  will  be  born, 
who  can  come  and  offer  harm  to  the  Phaeacian  land : 
for  we  are  very  dear  to  the  immortals  ;  and  then  we  live 
apart,  far  on  the  surging  sea,  no  other  tribe  of  men 
has  dealings  with  us.  But  this  poor  man  has  come 
here  having  lost  his  way,  and  we  should  give  him  aid  ; 
for  in  the  charge  of  Zeus  all  strangers  and  beggars 
stand,  and  a  small  gift  is  welcome.  Then  give,  my 
women,  to  the  stranger  food  and  drink,  and  bathe 
him  in  the  river  where  there  is  shelter  from  the 
breeze." 

She  spoke ;  the  others  stopped  and  called  to  one 
another,  and  down  they  brought  Odysseus  to  the 
place  of  shelter,  even  as  Nausicaa,  daughter  of  gene- 
rous Alcinoiis,  had  ordered.  They  placed  a  robe  and 
tunic  there  for  clothing,  they  gave  him  in  the  golden 


VI.  215-246.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  95 

flask  the  liquid  oil,  and  bade  him  bathe  in  the  stream's 
currents.  Then  to  the  waiting  -  women  said  royal 
Odysseus  : 

"  Women,  stand  here  aside,  while  by  myself  I  wash 
the  salt  from  off  my  back  and  with  the  oil  anoint  me  *, 
for  it  is  long  since  ointment  touched  my  skin.  But 
before  you  I  will  not  bathe  ;  for  I  am  ashamed  to  bare 
myself  among  you  fair-haired  maids." 

So  he  spoke ;  the  women  went  away,  and  told  it  to 
the  maid.  And  now  with  water  from  the  stream  royal 
Odysseus  washed  his  skin  clean  of  the  salt  which 
clung  about  his  back  and  his  broad  shoulders,  and 
wiped  from  his  head  the  foam  brought  by  the  barren 
sea  ;  and  when  he  had  thoroughly  bathed  and  oiled 
himself  and  had  put  on  the  clothing  which  the  chaste 
maiden  gave,  Athene,  the  daughter  of  Zeus,  made 
him  taller  than  before  and  stouter  to  behold,  and  she 
made  the  curling  locks  to  fall  around  his  head  as  on 
the  hyacinth  flower.  As  when  a  man  lays  gold  on 
silver,  —  some  skillful  man  whom  Hephaestus  and  Pal- 
las Athene  have  trained  in  every  art,  and  he  fash- 
ions graceful  work ;  so  did  she  cast  a  grace  upon 
his  head  and  shoulders.  He  walked  apart  along  the 
shore,  and  there  sat  down,  beaming  with  grace  and 
beauty.  The  maid  observed  ;  then  to  her  fair-haired 
waiting- women  said : 

"  Hearken,  my  white-armed  women,  while  I  speak. 
Not  without  purpose  on  the  part  of  all  the  gods  that 
hold  Olympus  is  this  man's  meeting  with  the  godlike 
Phaeacians.  A  while  ago,  he  really  seemed  to  me  ill- 
looking,  but  now  he  is  like  the  gods  who  hold  the 
open  sky.  Ah,  might  a  man  like  this  be  called  my 
husband,  having  his  home  here,  and  content  to  stay  ! 
But  give,  my  women,  to  the  stranger  food  and  drink." 


96  THE   ODYSSEY.  [VI.  247-278. 

She  spoke,  and  very  willingly  they  heeded  and 
obeyed,  and  set  beside  Odysseus  food  and  drink. 
Then  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  eagerly  drank  and  ate, 
for  he  had  long  been  fasting. 

And  now  to  other  matters  white-armed  Nausicaa 
turned  her  thoughts.  She  folded  the  clothes  and  laid 
them  in  the  beautiful  wagon,  she  yoked  the  stout- 
hoofed  mules,  mounted  herself,  and  calling  to  Odys- 
seus thus  she  spoke  and  said : 

fc<  Arise  now,  stranger,  and  hasten  to  the  town,  that 
I  may  set  you  on  the  road  to  my  wise  father's  house, 
where  you  shall  see,  I  promise  you,  the  best  of  all 
Phaeaeia.  Only  do  this,  —  you  seem  to  me  not  to  lack 
understanding  :  while  we  are  passing  through  the  fields 
and  farms,  here  with  my  women,  behind  the  mules 
and  cart,  walk  rapidly  along,  and  I  will  lead  the  way. 
But  as  we  near  the  town,  —  round  which  is  a  lofty 
rampart,  a  beautiful  harbor  on  each  side  and  a  narrow 
road  between,  —  there  curved  ships  line  the  way  ;  for 
every  man  has  his  own  mooring-place.  Beyond  is  the 
assembly  near  the  beautiful  grounds  of  Poseidon, 
constructed  out  of  blocks  of  stone  deeply  imbedded. 
Further  along,  they  make  the  black  ships'  tackling,  ca- 
bles and  canvas,  and  shape  out  the  oars  ;  for  the  Phae- 
acians  do  not  care  for  bow  and  quiver,  only  for  masts 
and  oars  of  ships  and  the  trim  ships  themselves,  with 
which  it  is  their  joy  to  cross  the  foaming  sea.  Now 
the  rude  talk  of  such  as  these  I  would  avoid,  that  no 
one  afterwards  may  give  me  blame.  For  very  for- 
ward persons  are  about  the  place,  and  some  coarse 
man  might  say,  if  he  should  meet  us  :  4  What  tall  and 
handsome  stranger  is  following  Nausicaa?  Where 
did  she  find  him?  A  husband  he  will  be,  her  very 
own.     Some  castaway,  perhaps,  she  rescued  from  his 


VI.  279-312.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  97 

vessel,  some  foreigner  ;  for  we  have  no  neighbors  here. 
Or  at  her  prayer  some  long-entreated  god  has  come 
straight  down  from  heaven,  and  he  will  keep  her  his 
forever.  So  much  the  better,  if  she  has  gone  herself 
and  found  a  husband  elsewhere  !  The  people  of  our 
own  land  here,  Phaeacians,  she  disdains,  though  she 
has  many  high-born  suitors.'  So  they  will  talk,  and 
for  me  it  would  prove  a  scandal.  I  should  myself  cen- 
sure a  girl  who  acted  so,  who,  heedless  of  friends, 
while  father  and  mother  were  alive,  mingled  with  men 
before  her  public  wedding.  And,  stranger,  listen  now 
to  what  I  say,  that  you  may  soon  obtain  assistance 
and  safe  conduct  from  my  father.  Near  our  road 
you  will  see  a  stately  grove  of  poplar  trees,  belonging 
to  Athene  ;  in  it  a  fountain  flows,  and  round  it  is  a 
meadow.  That  is  my  father's  park,  his  fruitful  vine- 
yard, as  far  from  the  town  as  one  can  call.  There 
sit  and  wait  a  while,  until  we  come  to  the  town  and 
reach  my  father's  palace.  But  when  you  think  we 
have  already  reached  the  palace,  enter  the  city  of  the 
Phaeacians,  and  ask  for  the  palace  of  my  father,  gene- 
rous Alcinoiis.  Easily  is  it  known ;  a  child,  though 
young,  could  show  the  way  ;  for  the  Phaeacians  do  not 
build  their  houses  like  the  dwelling  of  Alcinoiis  their 
prince.  But  when  his  house  and  court  receive  you, 
pass  quickly  through  the  hall  until  you  find  my  mother. 
She  sits  in  the  firelight  by  the  hearth,  spinning  sea- 
purple  yarn,  a  marvel  to  behold,  and  resting  against  a 
pillar.  Her  handmaids  sit  behind  her.  Here  too 
my  father's  seat  rests  on  the  selfsame  pillar,  and  here 
he  sits  and  sips  his  wine  like  an  immortal.  Passing 
him  by,  stretch  out  your  hands  to  our  mother's  knees, 
if  you  would  see  the  day  of  your  return  in  gladness 
and  with  speed,  although  you   come   from   far.     If 


98  THE    ODYSSEY.  [VI.  313-331. 

she  regards  you  kindly  in  her  heart,  then  there  is 
hope  that  you  may  see  your  friends  and  reach  your 
stately  house  and  natiye  land." 

Saying  this,  with  her  bright  whip  she  struck  the 
mules,  and  fast  they  left  the  river's  streams  :  and  well 
they  trotted,  well  they  plied  their  feet,  and  skillfully 
she  reined  them  that  those  on  foot  might  follow,  — 
the  waiting-women  and  Odysseus,  —  and  moderately 
she  used  the  lash.  The  sun  was  setting  when  they 
reached  the  famous  grove,  Athene's  sacred  ground, 
where  royal  Odysseus  sat  him  down.  And  thereupon 
he  prayed  to  the  daughter  of  mighty  Zeus  : 

"  Hearken,  thou  child  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus,  un- 
wearied one  !  Oh  hear  me  now,  although  before  thou 
didst  not  hear  me,  when  I  was  wrecked,  what  time  the 
great  Land-shaker  wrecked  me.  Grant  that  I  come 
among  the  Phaeacians  welcomed  and  pitied  by  theni." 

So  spoke  he  in  his  prayer,  and  Pallas  Athene  heard, 
but  did  not  yet  appear  to  him  in  open  presence  ;  for 
she  regarded  still  her  father's  brother,  who  stoutly 
strove  with  godlike  Odysseus  until  he  reached  his 
land. 


VII. 

THE  WELCOME   OF   ALCINOUS. 

Here,  then,  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  made  his 
prayer;  but  to  the  town  the  strong  mules  bore  the  maid. 
And  when  she  reached  her  father's  famous  palace,  she 
stopped  before  the  door-way,  and  round  her  stood  her 
brothers,  men  like  immortals,  who  from  the  cart  un- 
yoked the  mules  and  carried  the  clothing  in.  The 
maid  went  to  her  chamber,  where  a  fire  was  kindled 
for  her  by  an  old  Apeirean  woman,  the  chamber-ser- 
vant Eurymedousa,  whom  long  ago  curved  ships 
brought  from  Apeira  ;  her  they  had  chosen  from  the 
rest  to  be  the  gift  of  honor  for  Alcinoiis,  because  he 
was  the  lord  of  all  Phaeacians,  and  people  listened  to 
his  voice  as  if  he  were  a  god.  She  was  the  nurse  of 
white-armed  Xausicaa  at  the  palace,  and  she  it  was 
who  kindled  her  the  fire  and  in  her  room  prepared 
her  supper. 

And  now  Odysseus  rose  to  go  to  the  city ;  but 
Athene  kindly  drew  thick  clouds  around  Odysseus, 
for  fear  some  bold  Phaeacian  meeting  him  mio*ht 
trouble  him  with  talk  and  ask  him  who  he  was.  And 
just  as  he  was  entering  the  pleasant  town,  the  goddess, 
clear-eyed  Athene,  came  to  meet  him,  disguised  as  a 
young  girl  who  bore  a  water-jar.  She  paused  as  she 
drew  near,  and  royal  Odysseus  asked  : 

"  My  child,  could  you  not  guide  me  to  the  house  of 
one  Alcinoiis,  who  is  ruler  of  this  people  ?     For  I  am 


100  THE    ODYSSEY.  [VII.  25-57. 

a  toil-worn  stranger  come  from  far,  out  of  a  distant 
land.  Therefore  I  know  not  one  among  the  men  who 
own  this  city  and  this  land." 

Then  said  to  him  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene  : 
"  Yes,  good  old  stranger,  I  will  show  the  house  for 
which  you  ask,  for  it  stands  near  my  gentle  father's. 
But  follow  in  silence  ;  I  will  lead  the  way.  Cast 
not  a  glance  at  any  man  and  ask  no  questions ; 
for  our  people  do  not  well  endure  a  stranger,  nor 
courteously  receive  a  man  who  comes  from  elsewhere. 
Yet  they  themselves  trust  in  swift  ships  and  traverse 
the  great  deep,  for  the  Earth-shaker  permits  them. 
Swift  are  their  ships  as  wing  or  thought." 

Saying  this,  Pallas  Athene  led  the  way  in  haste, 
and  he  walked  after  in  the  footsteps  of  the  goddess. 
So  the  Phaeacians,  famed  for  shipping,  did  not  ob- 
serve him  walking  through  the  town  among  them, 
because  Athene,  the  fair-haired  powerful  goddess,  did 
not  allow  it,  but  in  the  kindness  of  her  heart  drew  a 
marvelous  mist  around  him.  And  now  Odysseus  ad- 
mired the  harbors,  the  trim  ships,  the  meeting-places 
of  the  lords  themselves,  and  the  long  walls  that  were 
so  high,  fitted  with  palisades,  a  marvel  to  behold. 
Then  as  they  neared  the  famous  palace  of  the  king, 
the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene,  thus  began : 

"  Here,  good  old  stranger,  is  the  house  you  bade  me 
show.  You  will  see  heaven-descended  kin^s  sitting:  at 
table  here.  But  enter,  and  have  no  misgivings  in  your 
heart ;  for  the  courageous  man  in  all  affairs  better  at- 
tains his  end,  come  he  from  where  he  may.  First  you 
shall  find  the  Queen  within  the  hall.  Arete  is  her 
name  ;  sprung  from  the  self-same  ancestry  as  King 
Alcinoiis.  In  early  days  earth-shaking  Poseidon  begot 
Nausithoiis  by  Periboea,  the  chief  of  womankind  in 


VII.  58-89.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  101 

beauty  and  youngest  daughter  m  that  held,  T^urym.e- 
don  who  once  was  king  of  the  presumptuous  giants ; 
but  he  brought  ruin  on  his  impious  tribe  and  on  him- 
self. Poseidon  lay  with  Periboea  and  had  by  her  a 
son,  resolute  Nausithous,  who  was  king  of  the  Phaea- 
eians.  Nausithous  begot  Khexenor  and  Alcinoiis  ;  but 
before  Rhexenor  had  a  son,  Apollo  of  the  silver  bow 
smote  him  within  his  hall,  soon  after  he  was  wed,  and 
he  left  behind  an  only  child,  Arete.  Alcinoiis  took 
Arete  for  his  wife,  and  he  has  honored  her  as  no  one 
else  on  earth  is  honored  among  the  women  who  to-day 
keep  houses  for  their  husbands.  Thus  has  she  had  a 
heartfelt  honor,  and  she  has  it  still,  from  her  own 
children,  from  Alcinoiis  himself,  and  from  the  people 
also,  who  gaze  on  her  as  on  a  god  and  greet  her  with 
welcomes  when  she  walks  about  the  town.  For  of 
sound  judgment,  woman  as  she  is,  she  has  no  lack ; 
and  those  whom  she  regards,  though  men.  find  troubles 
clear  away.  If  she  regards  you  kindly  in  her  heart, 
then  there  is  hope  that  you  may  see  your  friends  and 
reach  your  high-roofed  house  and  native  land.'' 

Saying  this,  clear-eyed  Athene  passed  away,  over 
the  barren  sea.  She  turned  from  pleasant  Scheria, 
and  came  to  Marathon  and  wide-wayed  Athens  and 
entered  there  the  strong  house  of  Erechtheus.  Mean- 
while Odysseus  neared  the  lordly  palace  of  Alcinoiis, 
and  his  heart  was  deeply  stirred  so  that  he  paused  be- 
fore he  crossed  the  brazen  threshold ;  for  a  sheen  as 
of  the  sun  or  moon  played  through  the  high-roofed 
house  of  generous  Alcinoiis.  On  either  hand  ran 
walls  of  bronze  from  threshold  to  recess,  and  round 
about  the  ceiling  was  a  cornice  of  dark  metal.  Doors 
made  of  gold  closed  in  the  solid  building.  The  door- 
posts were  of  silver  and  stood  on  a  bronze  threshold, 


102  THE'  ODYSSEY.  [VII.  90-124. 

silver  the*l«niel  ^overhead;  and  gold  the  handle.  On 
the  two  sides  were  gold  and  silver  dogs ;  these  had 
Hephaestus  wrought  with  subtle  craft  to  guard  the 
house  of  generous  Alcinous,  creatures  immortal,  young 
forever.  Within  were  seats  planted  against  the  wall 
on  this  side  and  on  that,  from  threshold  to  recess,  in 
long  array ;  and  over  these  were  strewrn  light  fine- 
spun robes,  the  work  of  women.  Here  the  Phaeacian 
leaders  used  to  sit,  drinking  and  eating,  holding  con- 
stant cheer.  And  golden  youths  on  massive  pedestals 
stood  and  held  flaming  torches  in  their  hands  to  light 
by  night  the  palace  for  the  feasters. 

In  the  King's  house  are  fifty  serving  maids,  some 
grinding  at  the  mill  the  yellow  corn,  some  plying 
looms  or  twisting  yarn,  who  as  they  sit  are  like  the 
leaves  of  a  tall  poplar ;  and  from  the  close-spun  linen 
drops  the  liquid  oil.  And  as  Phaeacian  men  are 
skilled  beyond  all  others  in  speeding  a  swift  ship 
along  the  sea,  so  are  their  women  practiced  at  the 
loom  ;  for  Athene  has  given  them  in  large  measure 
skill  in  fair  works  and  noble  minds. 

Without  the  court  and  close  beside  its  gate  is  a 
large  garden,  covering  four  acres ;  around  it  runs  a 
hedge  on  either  side.  Here  grow  tall  thrifty  trees  — 
pears,  pomegranates,  apples  with  shining  fruit,  sweet 
figs  and  thrifty  olives.  On  them  fruit  never  fails  ;  it 
is  not  gone  in  winter  or  in  summer,  but  lasts  through- 
out the  year;  for  constantly  the  west  wind's  breath 
brings  some  to  bud  and  mellows  others.  Pear  ripens 
upon  pear,  apple  on  apple,  cluster  on  cluster,  fig  on 
fig.  Here  too  the  teeming  vineyard  has  been  planted, 
one  part  of  which,  the  drying  place,  lying  on  level 
ground,  is  heating  in  the  sun  ;  elsewhere  men  gather 
grapes ;    and    elsewhere  still    they  tread   them.      In 


VII.  125-155.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  103 

front,  the  grapes  are  green  and  shed  their  flower, 
but  a  second  row  are  now  just  turning  dark.  And 
here  trim  garden-beds,  along  the  outer  line,  spring  up 
in  every  kind  and  all  the  year  are  gay.  Near  by,  two 
fountains  rise,  one  scattering  its  streams  throughout 
the  garden,  one  bounding  by  another  course  beneath 
the  court-yard  gate  toward  the  high  house  ;  from  this 
the  townsfolk  draw  their  water.  Such  at  the  palace 
of  Alcinous  were  the  gods'  splendid  gifts. 

Here  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  stood  and  gazed. 
Tli en  after  he  had  gazed  to  his  heart's  fill  on  all,  he 
quickly  crossed  the  threshold  and  came  within  the 
house.  He  found  the  Phaeacian  captains  and  coun- 
cilors pouring  libations  from  their  cups  to  the  clear- 
sighted Speedy-comer,  to  whom  they  always  offer  a  last 
cup  when  they  prepare  for  bed.  Along  the  hall  went 
long-tried  royal  Odysseus,  still  clothed  in  the  thick 
cloud  which  Athene  drew  around  him,  until  he  came 
to  Arete  and  to  King  Alcinous.  About  Arete's  knees 
Odysseus  threw  his  arms,  and  then  the  marvelous 
cloud  retreated  from  him.  Seeing  the  man,  the  peo- 
ple of  the  house  were  hushed  and  marveled  as  they 
gazed,  and  thus  Odysseus  made  his  supplication  : 

"  Arete,  daughter  of  divine  Rhexenor,  to  your  hus- 
band I  am  come,  and  to  your  knees,  through  many 
toils,  and  to  these  feasters  too.  The  gods  bestow  upon 
them  the  blessing  of  long  life,  and  to  his  children  may 
each  one  leave  the  wealth  within  his  hall  and  every 
honor  men  have  given.  But  quickly  grant  me  aid  to 
reach  my  native  land ;  for  long  cut  off  from  friends  I 
have  been  meeting  hardship." 

When  he  had  spoken  thus,  he  sat  down  on  the 
hearth  among  the  ashes  by  the  fire,  while  all  were 
hushed  to   silence.     At   last  the  old  lord   Echeneus 


104  THE    ODYSSEY.  [VII.  156-187. 

spoke,  the  oldest  man  of  the  Phaeacian  race,  preemi- 
nent in  speech  and  full  of  knowledge  of  the  past. 
He  with  good  will  addressed  them  thus,  and  said  : 

"  Alcinoiis,  this  is  not  quite  honorable  to  you  ;  it  is 
unseemly  that  a  stranger  should  be  sitting  on  the 
hearth  among  the  ashes.  Awaiting  words  of  yours, 
these  men  hold  back.  Come  then,  raise  up  the  stran- 
ger, seat  him  on  a  silver-studded  chair,  and  bid  the 
pages  mix  more  wine,  that  we  may  also  pour  to  Zeus, 
the  Thunderer,  who  waits  on  worthy  suppliants.  And 
let  the  housekeeper  give  supper  to  the  stranger  from 
what  she  has  in  store." 

Now  when  revered  Alcinoiis  heard  his  word,  he 
took  by  the  hand  Odysseus,  keen  and  crafty,  raised 
him  from  the  hearth  and  placed  him  on  a  shining 
chair,  making  his  son  arise,  manly  Laodamas,  who  sat 
beside  his  father,  for  his  father  loved  him  best.  And 
water  for  the  hands  a  servant  brought  in  a  beautiful 
pitcher  made  of  gold,  and  poured  it  out  over  a  silver 
basin  for  their  wrashing,  and  spread  a  polished  table 
by  their  side.  And  the  grave  housekeeper  brought 
bread  and  placed  before  them,  setting  out  food  of 
many  a  kind,  freely  giving  of  her  store.  So  long- 
tried  royal  Odysseus  drank  and  ate.  And  now  to 
the  page  revered  Alcinoiis  said  : 

"  Pontonoiis,  mix  a  bowl  and  pass  the  wine  to  all 
within  the  hall,  that  we  may  also  pour  to  Zeus,  the 
Thunderer,  who  waits  on  worthy  suppliants." 

He  spoke  ;  Pontonoiis  stirred  the  cheering  wine  and 
served  to  all,  with  a  first  pious  portion  for  the  cup. 
So  after  they  had  poured  and  drunk  as  their  hearts 
would,  then  thus  Alcinoiis  addressed  them,  saying : 

"  Hearken,  Phaeacian  captains  and  councilors,  and 
let  me  tell  you  what  the  heart  within  me  bids.     After 


VII.  188-220.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  105 

the  feast  is  over,  go  to  your  homes  and  rest ;  and 
in  the  morning  we  will  call  more  elders  hither,  and 
entertain  the  stranger  at  the  hall,  and  make  fit  offer- 
ing to  the  gods.  Then  afterwards  we  will  take 
thought  about  his  going,  so  that  the  stranger,  free 
from  toil  and  trouble,  may  by  our  guidance  reach  his 
land  in  gladness  and  with  speed,  although  he  comes 
from  far.  So  shall  he,  meanwhile,  meet  no  ill  or  harm 
till  he  set  foot  in  his  own  land ;  -there,  in  the  days  to 
come,  he  shall  receive  whatever  fate  and  the  stern 
spinners  wove  in  his  birth-thread  when  his  mother 
bore  him.  But  if  he  be  some  deathless  one  come 
down  from  heaven,  then  do  the  gods  herein  deal  with 
us  strangely ;  for  heretofore  the  gods  have  always 
shown  themselves  without  disguise,  and  when  we  offer 
splendid  hecatombs  they  sit  beside  us  at  the  feast,  even 
like  ourselves.  And  if  a  man,  walking  alone,  meet 
them  upon  his  way,  they  do  not  hide  ;  for  we  are  of 
their  kin,  as  are  the  Cyclops  and  the  wild  tribes  of 
Giants." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said :  "  Al- 
cinoiis,  other  thoughts  of  me  be  yours  !  I  am  not  like 
the  deathless  ones  who  hold  the  open  sky,  either  in 
form  or  bearing,  but  on  the  contrary  I  am  like  men 
that  die  ;  and  whomsoever  you  have  known  bearing 
most  grief  among  mankind,  his  sorrows  I  could  equal. 
Yes,  even  more  distresses  still  I  might  relate  which 
first  and  last  I  bore  at  the  gods'  bidding.  But 
let  me  now,  though  sick  at  heart,  take  supper ;  for 
nothing  *is  more  brutal  than  an  angry  belly.  Perforce 
it  bids  a  man  attend,  sadly  though  he  be  worn, 
though  grief  be  on  his  mind.  Even  so,  I  too  have 
grief  upon  my  mind,  and  yet  this  evermore  calls  me 
to  eat  and  drink  ;  all  I  have  borne  it  makes  me  quite 


106  THE    ODYSSEY.  [VII.  221-253. 

forget,  and  bids  me  take  my  fill.  But  do  you  hasten 
at  the  dawn  of  day  to  land  unhappy  me  in  my  own 
country,  much  as  I  still  must  bear ;  and  let  life  pass 
when  once  I  have  beheld  my  goods,  my  slaves,  and 
my  great  high-roofed  house." 

He  spoke,  and  all  approved  and  bade  send  forth  the 
stranger,  for  rightly  had  he  spoken.  Then  after  they 
had  poured  and  drunk  as  their  hearts  would,  desiring 
rest,  they  each  departed  homeward.  So  in  the  hall 
was  royal  Odysseus  left  behind  ;  Arete,  too,  and  god- 
like Alcinoiis  sat  beside  him,  while  servants  cleared 
away  the  dishes  of  the  meal.  Then  thus  began  white- 
armed  Arete  ;  for  when  she  saw  Odysseus  she  knew 
his  robe  and  tunic  to  be  the  beautiful  clothing-  which 
she  herself  had  made  —  she  and  her  waiting-women  ; 
and  speaking  in  winged  words,  she  said  : 

"  Stranger,  I  will  myself  first  ask  you  this  :  Who 
are  you  ?  Of  what  people  ?  Who  gave  this  clothing 
to  you  ?  Did  you  not  say  you  came  to  us  when  lost 
upon  the  sea  ?  " 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said  :  "  Hard 
it  were,  Queen,  fully  to  tell  my  woes,  because  the  gods 
of  heaven  have  given  me  many  ;  still,  what  you  ask 
and  seek  to  know  I  will  declare.  Ogygia  is  an  island 
lying  far  out  at  sea,  where  the  daughter  of  Atlas 
dwells,  crafty  Calypso,  a  fair-haired,  powerful  god- 
dess. Her  no  one  visits,  neither  god  nor  mortal  man  ; 
but  hapless  me  some  heavenly  power  brought  to  her 
hearth,  and  all  alone,  for  Zeus  with  a  gleaming  bolt 
smote  my  swift  ship  and  wrecked  it  in  the  middle 
of  the  wine-dark  sea.  There  all  the  rest  of  my  good 
comrades  perished,  but  I  myself  caught  in  my  arms 
the  keel  of  my  curved  ship  and  drifted  for  nine  days. 
Upon  the  tenth,  in  the  dark  night,  gods,  brought  me 


VII.  254-287.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  107 

to  the  island  of  Ogygia,  where  dwells  Calypso,  the 
fair-haired,  powerful  goddess.  Receiving  me,  she 
loved  and  cherished  me,  and  often  said  that  she  would 
make  me  an  immortal,  young  forever ;  but  she  never 
beguiled  the  heart  within  my  breast.  Here  for  seven 
years  I  lingered,  and  often  with  my  tears  bedewed  the 
immortal  robes  Calypso  gave.  But  when  the  eighth 
revolving  year  was  come,  she  bade  me,  even  urged 
me,  to  depart,  whether  through  message  sent  from 
Zeus  or  that  her  own  mind  changed.  Upon  a  strong- 
built  raft  she  sent  me  forth,  giving  abundant  food, 
bread  and  sweet  wine ;  she  clad  me  in  immortal  robes 
and  sent  along  my  course  a  fair  and  gentle  breeze. 
For  seventeen  days  I  sailed  across  the  sea ;  on  the 
eighteenth  there  came  in  sight  the  dim  heights  of 
your  coast,  and  I  was  glad  at  heart  —  ill-fated  I, 
who  yet  must  meet  the  sore  distress  which  earth- 
shaking  Poseidon  brought  upon  me.  For  he  awoke 
the  winds  and  barred  my  progress,  stirred  marvelously 
the  waters,  and  the  waves  did  not  suffer  me,  spite  of 
my  many  groans,  to  ride  my  raft.  This  soon  the 
tempest  shattered,  but  I  by  swimming  forced  my  way 
through  the  flood,  till  at  your  coast  the  wind  and  water 
brought  me  in.  Here,  as  I  tried  to  land,  the  waves 
upon  the  shore  might  well  have  overcome  me,  casting 
me  on  great  rocks  and  on  forbidding  ground  ;  but  I 
turned  back  and  swam  until  I  reached  a  stream  where 
the  ground  seemed  most  fit,  so  clear  of  stones  and 
sheltered  from  the  breeze.  Gathering  my  strength, 
I  staggered  out,  and  the  immortal  night  drew  near. 
Off  to  a  distance  from  the  heaven-descended  stream 
I  walked,  and  fell  asleep  among  the  bushes,  heaping 
the  leaves  around  ;  and  here  God  poured  upon  me  a 
slumber  without  end.    For  lying  among  the  leaves  and 


108  THE    ODYSSEY.  [VII.  288-320. 

sad  at  heart,  I  slept  all  night  till  morning,  then  till 
noon ;  the  sun  was  going  clown  as  the  sweet  slumber 
left  me.  And  now  upon  the  shore  I  saw  your  daugh- 
ter's maids,  playing  a  game,  and  she  among  them 
seemed  a  goddess.  To  her  I  made  entreaty,  and  she 
did  not  lack  sound  judgment,  such  as  you  could  not 
hope  that  a  young  person  meeting  you  would  show  ; 
for  usually  the  young  are  giddy.  She  gave  me  bread 
enough  and  sparkling  wine,  she  bathed  me  in  the 
river  and  gave  to  me  these  clothes.  Thus,  though  in 
trouble,  I  have  told  you  all  the  truth." 

Then  answered  him  Alcinoiis  and  said  :  "  Stranger, 
in  this  my  child  behaved  not  rightly,  in  that  she  did 
not  bring  you  hither  with  her  maids.  Yet  it  was  she 
from  whom  you  first  sought  aid." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said  :  "  Sire, 
do  not  for  this  reproach  the  blameless  girl.  For  she 
instructed  me  to  follow  with  the  maids  ;  but  I  would 
not,  for  fear  and  very  shame,  lest  possibly  your  heart 
might  be  offended  at  the  sight.  Suspicious  creatures 
are  we  sons  of  men  on  earth." 

Then  answered  him  Alcinoiis  and  said  :  "  Stranger, 
the  heart  within  my  breast  is  not  one  lightly  troubled. 
Better,  good  sense  in  all  things.  O  father  Zeus, 
Athene,  and  Apollo,  that  such  a  man  as  you,  so  like 
in  mind  to  me,  might  take  my  child,  be  called  my 
son-in-law,  and  here  abide!  For  I  would  give  you 
house  and  goods  if  you  would  like  to  stay.  Against 
your  wish,  shall  no  Phaeacian  hold  you.  That,  father 
Zeus  forbid !  Nay,  I  will  fix  your  setting  forth,  and 
you  may  rest  secure ;  to-morrow  shall  it  be.  And  you 
shall  be  lying  all  the  time  wrapt  in  a  sleep,  while  they 
are  speeding  you  along  calm  seas  until  you  reach 
your  land  and  home  or  anywhere  you  please,  though 


VII.  321-347. J  THE   ODYSSEY.  109 

that  were  far  beyond  Euboea,  which  is  called  the  far- 
thest shore  by  those  among"  our  people  who  once  saw 
it  when  they  carried  light-haired  Rhadamanthus  to 
visit  Tityus,  the  son  of  Gaia.  So  far  they  went,  with- 
out fatigue  performing  all,  and  on  the  self-same  day 
finished  the  journey  home.  But  you  yourself  shall 
judge  how  excellent  my  ships  and  young  men  are  in 
tossing  up  the  water  with  the  oar." 

He  spoke,  and  glad  was  long-tried  royal  Odysseus, 
who,  making  his  prayer,  uttered  these  words  and 
said : 

"  O  father  Zeus,  all  that  Alcinoiis  has  said  may  he 
fulfill.  Then  on  the  fruitful  earth  his  name  shall 
never  die,  and  I  shall  reach  my  home." 

So  they  conversed  together.  Meantime  white- 
armed  Arete  bade  her  maids  to  set  a  bed  beneath  the 
portico,  to  lay  upon  it  beautiful  purple  rugs,  spread 
blankets  over  these,  and  then  place  woolen  mantles 
on  the  outside  for  a  covering.  So  the  maids  left  the 
hall,  with  torches  in  their  hands.  And  after  they  had 
spread  the  comfortable  bed  with  busy  speed,  they 
summoned  Odysseus,  drawing  near  and  saying :  "  Up, 
stranger,  come  to  sleep.  Your  bed  is  ready."  So  did 
they  speak,  and  to  him  rest  seemed  delightful.  Thus 
long-tried  royal  Odysseus  lay  down  to  sleep  upon 
the  well-bored  bedstead  beneath  the  echoing  portico. 
But  Alcinoiis  slept  in  the  recess  of  his  high  hall ;  his 
wife,  the  queen,  making  her  bed  beside  him. 


VIII. 

THE   STAY   IN   PHAEACIA. 

Soon  as  the  early  rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared,  re- 
vered Alcinoiis  rose  from  bed,  and  up  rose  also  high- 
born Odysseus,  spoiler  of  cities.  And  now  revered 
Alcinoiis  led  the  way  to  the  assembly  -  place  of  the 
Phaeacians,  which  lay  beside  the  ships.  When  they 
were  come,  they  took  their  seats  on  polished  stones, 
set  side  by  side ;  while  Pallas  Athene  went  through- 
out the  town  in  likeness  of  the  page  of  wise  Alcinoiis, 
planning  a  safe  return  for  brave  Odysseus  ;  and  ap- 
proaching one  and  another  man,  she  gave  the  word  : 

"  Come  hither,  Phaeacian  captains  and  councilors, 
come,  hasten  to  the  assembly  to  hear  about  the  stran- 
ger who  came  but  lately  to  the  house  of  wise  Alci- 
noiis, when  cast  away  at  sea.  In  form  he  is  like  the 
immortals." 

With  words  like  these  she  stirred  in  each  a  zeal  and 
a  desire,  and  speedily  the  assembly-place  and  all  its 
seats  were  filled  with  those  who  came.  Then  many 
marveled  when  they  saw  the  wise  son  of  Laertes ;  for 
Athene  cast  a  wondrous  grace  about  his  head  and 
shoulders,  and  made  him  taller  than  before  and 
stouter  to  behold,  that  so  he  might  find  favor  in  all 
Phaeacian  eyes  as  one  of  power  and  worth,  and  that 
he  might  win  too  the  many  games  in  which  the  Phaea- 
cians tried  Odysseus.  So  when  they  were  assembled 
and  all  had  come  together,  Alcinoiis  thus  addressed 
them,  saying : 


VIII.  26-59.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  Ill 

"  Hearken,  Phaeacian  captains  and  councilors,  and 
let  me  tell  you  what  the  heart  within  me  bids.  This 
stranger  —  who  he  is  I  do  not  know  —  came  hither  as 
a  wanderer  from  peoples  east  or  west.  He  begs  us 
for  assistance  and  prays  it  be  assured.  Then  let  us, 
even  as  heretofore,  furnish  assistance  promptly  ;  for 
never  has  a  stranger  reached  my  halls  and  tarried 
long  distressed  for  lack  of  aid.  Come,  let  us  launch 
into  the  sacred  sea  a  black  ship,  freshly  fitted,  and 
let  the  two  and  fifty  youths  be  chosen  from  the  land 
who  have  at  former  times  been  found  the  best.  Then 
after  lashing  carefully  the  oars  upon  the  pins,  all  dis- 
embark and  take  a  hasty  meal,  coming  for  this  to  me ; 
I  will  make  good  provision  for  you  all.  These  are 
my  orders  to  the  youths.  But  for  the  rest  of  you,  you 
sceptred  kings,  come  to  my  goodly  palace,  that  there 
within  my  hall  we  entertain  the  stranger;  let  none 
refuse ;  and  call  the  sacred  bard,  Demodocus,  for 
surely  God  has  granted  him  exceeding  skill  in  song, 
to  cheer  us  in  whatever  way  his  soul  is  moved  to 
sing." 

So  saying,  he  led  the  way,  the  sceptred  princes 
followed,  and  a  page  went  to  seek  the  sacred  bard, 
while  two  and  fifty  picked  young  men  departed,  as  he 
ordered,  to  the  shore  of  the  barren  sea.  On  coming 
to  the  ship  and  to  the  sea,  they  launched  the  black 
ship  into  deep  water,  put  mast  and  sail  in  the  black 
ship,  fitted  the  oars  into  their  leathern  slings,  all  in 
due  order,  and  up  aloft  spread  the  white  sail.  Out 
in  the  stream  they  moored  her,  then  took  their  way 
to  the  great  house  of  wise  Alcinoiis.  Filled  were  the 
porticoes,  the  courts,  and  rooms  with  those  already 
come  ;  many  were  there,  both  young  and  old.  In  their 
behalf  Alcinoiis  sacrificed  twelve  sheep,  eight  white- 


112  THE   ODYSSEY.  [VIII.  60-90. 

toothed  swine,  two  swing-paced  oxen ;  these  the  men 
flayed  and  served,  and  made  a  merry  feast. 

Meanwhile  the  page  drew  near,  leading  the  honored 
bard.  The  muse  had  greatly  loved  him,  and  had  given 
him  good  and  ill :  she  took  away  his  eyesight,  but  gave 
delightful  song.  Pontonoiis  placed  for  him  among  the 
feasters  a  silver-studded  chair,  backed  by  a  lofty  pil- 
lar, and  hung  the  tuneful  lyre  upon  its  peg  above  his 
head,  and  the  page  showed  him  how  to  reach  it  with 
his  hands.  By  him  he  set  a  tray  and  a  good  table, 
and  placed  thereon  a  cup  of  wine  to  drink  as  need 
should  bid.  So  on  the  food  spread  out  before  them 
they  laid  hands.  Now  after  they  had  stayed  desire 
for  drink  and  food,  the  muse  impelled  the  bard  to 
sing  men's  glorious  deeds,  a  lay  whose  fame  was  then 
as  wide  as  is  the  sky.  He  sang  the  strife  of  Odysseus 
with  Pelian  Achilles,  —  how  they  once  quarreled  at 
the  gods'  high  feast  with  furious  words,  and  Aga- 
memnon, king  of  men,  rejoiced  in  spirit  when  the 
bravest  of  the  Achaeans  quarreled ;  for  Phoebus 
Apollo  had  by  oracle  declared  it  so  should  be,  at  hal- 
lowed Pytho,  when  Agamemnon  crossed  its  stony 
threshold  to  ask  for  a  response.  Then  was  the  day 
the  tide  of  woe  began  to  roll  on  Trojans  and  on  Dana- 
ans,  according  to  the  will  of  mighty  Zeus. 

So  sang  the  famous  bard.  Meanwhile  Odysseus 
clutched  his  great  purple  cloak  in  his  stout  hands  and 
drew  it  round  his  head,  hiding  his  beautiful  face  ;  for 
he  felt  shame  before  the  Phaeacians  as  from  beneath 
his  brow  he  dropped  the  tears.  But  when  the  sacred 
bard  paused  in  the  song,  Odysseus  dried  his  tears, 
took  from  his  head  the  cloak,  and  seizing  his  double 
cup  poured  offerings  to  the  gods.  Then  as  the  other 
would  begin  again,  cheered  on  to  sing  by  the  Phaea- 


VIII.  91-124.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  113 

cian  chiefs,  —  for  they  enjoyed  the  story,  —  again 
would  Odysseus,  covering  his  head,  break  into  sobs. 
And  thus  he  hid  from  all  the  rest  the  tears  he  shed ; 
only  Alcinoiis  marked  him  and  took  heed,  for  he  sat 
near  and  heard  his  deep  -  drawn  sighs  ;  and  to  the 
Phaeacians,  who  delight  in  oars,  he  straightway  said  : 

"  Hearken,  Phaeacian  captains  and  councilors ! 
Now  have  we  satisfied  desire  for  the  impartial  feast 
and  for  the  lyre,  which  is  the  fellow  of  the  stately 
feast.  Let  us  then  come  away  and  try  all  kinds  of 
games,  so  that  the  stranger,  going  home,  may  tell  his 
friends  how  greatly  we  surpass  all  other  men  in  box- 
ing, wrestling,  leaping,  speed  of  foot." 

So  saying,  he  led  the  way,  the  others  followed  after. 
The  page  hung  on  its  peg  the  tuneful  lyre,  then  took 
by  the  hand  Demodocus  and  led  him  from  the  hall, 
guiding  his  steps  along  the  selfsame  road  by  which 
the  rest  of  the  Phaeacian  chiefs  went  forth  to  view 
the  games.  Thus  to  the  assembly-place  they  came, 
a  great  troop  following  after,  thousands  in  number ; 
and  many  a  gallant  youth  stood  waiting  there.  Forth 
stood  Acroneiis,  Ocyalus  and  Elatreus,  Nauteus  and 
Prymneus,  Anchialus  and  Eretmeus,  Ponteus  and 
Proreus,  Thoon,  Anabasineus  and  Amphialus  the  son 
of  Polyneiis,  son  of  the  carpenter.  Forth  also  stood 
a  youth  like  murderous  Ares,  Euryalus,  the  son  of 
Naubolus,  who  was  the  first  in  beauty  and  in  stature 
of  all  Phaeacians  after  brave  Laodamas.  Forth  stood 
three  sons  of  good  Alcinoiis,  —  Laodamas,  Halius,  and 
matchless  Clytoneiis.  At  first  they  tried  each  other 
in  the  foot-race.  Straight  from  a  mark  their  track 
was  measured  ;  and  all  flew  swiftly  off  together,  rais- 
ing the  dust  along  the  plain.  Best  in  the  race  was 
gallant  Clytoneiis  ;  and  by  such  space  as  at  the  plough 


114  THE    ODYSSEY.  [VIII.  125-155. 

the  mule-course  runs,  so  far  he  shot  ahead  and  reached 
the  crowd ;  the  rest  were  left  behind.  Next  in  the 
hardy  wrestling-match  they  had  a  trial,  and  here  Eu- 
ryalus  surpassed  all  champions.  At  leaping  Amphi- 
alus  was  foremost  of  them  all,  while  at  the  discus  the 
leader  was  Elatreus.  In  boxing  it  was  Laodamas,  the 
good  son  of  Alcinoiis.  So  when  all  hearts  were  glad- 
dened by  the  games,  up  spoke  Laodamas,  son  of  Al- 
cinoiis : 

"  Come,  friends,  and  let  us  ask  the  stranger  if  he 
knows  games  and  has  some  skill  in  any.  In  build,  at 
all  events,  he  is  no  common  man,  —  in  thighs,  and 
calves,  and  arms  above,  strong  neck,  and  massive 
chest.  Fit  years  he  does  not  lack,  only  he  has  been 
broken  down  by  many  hardships ;  for  nothing,  I  be- 
lieve, is  worse  than  sea-life  for  weakening  a  man,  how- 
ever strong  he  be." 

Then  answered  him  Euryalus,  and  said :  "  Lao- 
damas, what  you  have  said  is  rightly  spoken.  Go, 
challenge  him  yourself,  and  give  the  message." 

Now  when  the  good  son  of  Alcinoiis  heard  his 
words,  he  went  and  stood  before  them  all  and  thus 
addressed  Odysseus  : 

"  Come,  good  old  stranger,  do  you  also  try  the 
games,  if  you  have  skill  in  any.  Games  you  should 
know.  There  is  no  greater  glory  for  a  man  in  all  his 
life  than  what  he  wins  with  his  own  feet  and  hands. 
Come  then,  and  try  !  Drive  trouble  from  your  heart ! 
Your  journey  hence  shall  not  be  long  delayed.  Al- 
ready the  ship  is  launched,  the  sailors  ready." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said  :  "  Lao- 
damas, why  mock  me  with  this  challenge  ?  Sorrow  is 
on  my  heart  far  more  than  games  ;  for  in  times  past 
much  have  I  borne  and  much  have  toiled,  and  now  I 


VIII.  156-187.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  115 

sit  in  your  assembly  longing  for  my  home  and  suppli- 
cate your  king  and  all  this  i:>eople." 

Then  answered  back  Euryalus,  and  mocked  him  to 
his  face  :  "  No  indeed,  stranger,  you  do  not  look  like 
one  expert  in  games,  much  as  these  count  with  men  ; 
rather  like  one  busied  with  ships  of  many  oars,  cap- 
tain of  seamen  who  are  traders,  one  whose  mind  is  on 
his  cargo,  watching  freights  and  greedy  gains.  You 
are  not  like  an  athlete." 

But  looking  sternly  on  him  wise  Odysseus  said : 
"  Stranger,  your  words  are  rude.  You  seem  a  reckless 
person.  So  true  it  is  that  not  to  all  alike  the  gods 
grant  grace,  in  stature,  wisdom,  and  the  power  of 
speech.  For  one  man  is  in  look  inferior,  but  God 
crowns  his  words  with  beauty,  and  men  behold  him 
and  rejoice  ;  with  sure  effect  he  speaks  and  a  sweet 
modesty ;  he  shines  where  men  are  gathered,  and  as 
he  walks  the  town  men  gaze  as  on  some  god.  And 
one  again  in  look  is  like  the  immortals,  but  his  is  not 
the  crowning  grace  of  words.  So  you,  in  look,  are 
excellent,  —  better  God  could  not  fashion,  —  but  you 
are  weak  in  judgment.  You  stirred  the  very  soul 
within  my  breast  by  talking  so  unmannerly.  No !  I 
am  not  unskilled  in  games,  as  you  declare ;  I  was 
among  the  best,  I  think,  while  I  could  trust  my  vigor- 
ous age  and  these  my  arms.  Now  I  am  overwhelmed 
with  pain  and  trouble  ;  for  much  have  I  endured, 
cleaving  my  way  through  wars  of  men  and  through 
the  boisterous  seas.  Still  even  so,  all  woe-worn  as  I 
am,  I  will  attempt  the  games,  because  your  words 
were  galling ;  you  provoked  me,  talking  thus." 

He  spoke,  and  with  his  cloak  still  on  he  sprang 
and  seized  a  discus  larger  than  the  rest  and  thick, 
heavier  by  not  a  little  than  those  which  the  Phaea- 


116  THE    ODYSSEY.  [VIII.  188-221. 

cians  were  using  for  themselves.  This  with  a  twist 
he  sent  from  his  stout  hand.  The  stone  hummed  as 
it  went ;  down  to  the  ground  crouched  the  Phaeacian 
oarsmen,  notable  men  at  sea,  at  the  stone's  cast.  Past 
all  the  marks  it  flew,  swift  speeding  from  his  hand. 
Athene  marked  the  distances,  taking  a  human  form, 
and  thus  she  spoke  and  cried  aloud : 

"  A  blind  man,  stranger,  could  pick  you  out  that 
mark  by  feeling  merely,  because  it  is  not  huddled 
in  the  crowd,  but  lies  ahead  of  all.  Have  a  good 
heart,  this  bout  at  least ;  for  no  Phaeacian  will  reach 
that  or  overpass  it." 

She  spoke,  and  glad  was  long-tried  royal  Odysseus, 
pleased  that  he  saw  a  true  friend  in  the  ring.  And 
now  with  lighter  heart  he  called  to  the  Phaeacians  : 

"  Come  up  to  that,  young  men !  Soon  I  will  send 
another  as  far,  I  think,  or  farther.  And  if  there  is 
one  among  you  all  whose  heart  and  spirit  bids,  come, 
let  him  try  me  —  for  you  vexed  me  very  sore  —  in 
boxing,  wrestling,  or  the  foot-race  even;  it  matters 
not  to  me  ;  let  any  Phaeacian  try,  except  Laodamas. 
He  is  my  host,  and  who  would  quarrel  with  his 
entertainer  ?  Witless  the  man  must  be,  and  alto- 
gether worthless,  who  challenges  his  host  to  games 
when  in  a  foreign  land ;  he  hinders  his  own  welfare. 
None  of  the  rest  I  either  dread  or  scorn,  but  I  will 
gladly  know  you  all  and  prove  you  face  to  face.  Not 
at  all  weak  am  I  in  any  games  men  practice.  I  un- 
derstand full  well  handling  the  polished  bow,  and  1 
should  be  the  first  to  strike  my  man  by  sending  an 
arrow  in  the  throng  of  foes,  however  many  comrades 
stood  around  and  shot  at  their  men  too.  None  except 
Philoctetes  excelled  me  with  the  bow  at  Troy,  when 
we  Achaeans  tried  the  bow.     All  others  I  declare  I 


VIII.  222-255.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  117 

far  surpass,  all  that  are  living  now  and  eating  bread  on 
earth.  The  men  of  former  days  I  will  not  seek  to 
rival  —  Hercules,  and  Eurytus  of  Oechalia,  —  for 
these  would  rival  with  the  bow  immortals  even. 
Wherefore  great  Eurytus  died  all  too  soon  ;  no  old 
age  came  upon  him  in  his  home,  because  in  wrath 
Apollo  slew  him  ;  for  Eurytus  had  challenged  him  to 
try  the  bow.  I  send  the  spear  farther  than  other  men 
an  arrow.  Only  I  fear  that  in  the  foot-race  some 
Phaeacian  may  outstrip  me  ;  for  rudely  battered  have 
I  been  on  many  waters,  because  I  had  no  ease  at  sea 
for  any  length  of  time  ;  therefore  my  joints  are  weak- 
ened." 

So  he  spoke,  and  all  were  hushed  to  silence ;  only 
Alcinoiis  answering  said  :  "  Stranger,  without  dis- 
courtesy to  us  is  all  you  say ;  you  merely  seek  to  show 
the  prowess  that  is  yours,  indignant  that  the  man  be- 
side you  in  the  ring  insulted  you,  though  surely  no  man 
would  dispraise  your  prowess  who  knew  within  his 
heart  what  it  was  fit  to  say.  But  listen  now  to  words 
of  mine,  that  you  may  have  tales  to  tell  to  other 
heroes  when,  feasting  in  your  hall  with  wife  and 
children,  you  recollect  our  prowess  and  the  feats  Zeus 
has  vouchsafed  us  from  our  fathers'  days  till  now. 
We  are  not  faultless  boxers,  no,  nor  wrestlers ;  but 
in  the  foot-race  we  run  swiftly,  and  in  our  ships  ex- 
cel. Dear  to  us  ever  is  the  feast,  the  harp,  the  dance, 
changes  of  clothes,  warm  baths,  and  bed.  Come  then, 
Phaeacian  dancers,  the  best  among  you  make  us  sport, 
that  so  the  stranger  on  returning  home  may  tell  his 
friends  how  we  surpass  all  other  men  in  sailing,  run- 
ning, in  the  dance  and  song.  Go,  one  of  you,  forth- 
with, and  fetch  Demodocus  the  tuneful  lyre  that  lies 
within  our  hall." 


118  THE    ODYSSEY.  [VIII.  256-287. 

So  spoke  godlike  Alcinoiis,  and  a  page  sprang  to 
fetch  from  the  king's  house  the  hollow  lyre.  Then 
rose  the  appointed  umpires,  nine  in  all,  whose  public 
work  it  was  to  order  all  things  at  the  ring  ;  they 
smoothed  the  dancing-ground  and  cleared  a  fair  wide 
ring.  Meanwhile  the  page  drew  near  and  brought 
his  tuneful  lyre  to  Demodocus,  who  thereupon  stepped 
to  the  centre,  and  round  him  stood  young  men  in  the 
first  bloom  of  years,  skillful  at  dancing.  They  struck 
the  splendid  dance-ground  with  their  feet ;  Odysseus 
watched  their  twinkling  feet,  and  was  astonished. 

And  now  the  bard,  touching  his  lyre,  began  a  beau- 
tiful song  about  the  loves  of  Ares  and  crowned  Aphro- 
dite :  how  at  the  first  they  lay  together  in  the  palace 
of  Hephaestus,  privily  ;  and  many  a  gift  he  gave,  and 
wronged  the  bed  of  lord  Hephaestus.  Soon  to*  He- 
phaestus came  the  tell-tale  Sun,  who  had  observed 
their  meeting.  And  when  Hephaestus  heard  the  gall- 
ing tale,  he  hastened  to  his  smithy  meditating  evil  in 
his  heart,  there  set  upon  its  block  the  mighty  anvil 
and  forged  him  fetters  none  might  break  or  loose,  fet- 
ters to  hold  securely.  So  after  he  had  wrought  his 
snare,  in  anger  against  Ares,  hastening  to  the  cham- 
ber where  his  own  dear  bed  was  set,  around  its  posts 
on  every  side  he  dropped  his  toils  ;  and  many  too 
hung  drooping  from  the  rafter,  like  delicate  spider- 
webs  which  nobody  could  see,  not  even  the  blessed 
gods,  so  shrewdly  were  they  fashioned.  Then  after 
he  had  spread  the  snare  all  round  the  bed,  he  made 
a  show  of  going  off  to  Lemnos,  that  stately  citadel 
which  in  his  sight  is  far  the  dearest  of  all  spots  on 
earth.  Now  Ares  of  the  golden  rein  had  kept  no 
careless  watch,  and  so  espied  craftsman  Hephaestus 
setting  forth.     He  hastened  to  the  house  of  famed 


VIII.  288-320.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  119 

Hephaestus,  keen  for  the  love  of  fair-crowned  Cythe- 
rea.  She,  just  come  home  from  visiting  her  sire,  the 
powerful  son  of  Kronos,  was  sitting  clown.  He  came 
within  the  door,  and  holding  her  by  the  hand  he  spoke 
and  thus  addressed  her  : 

"  Come,  dear,  to  bed,  and  let  us  take  our  pleasure  ; 
for  Hephaestus  is  no  longer  here  at  home,  but  gone 
at  last  to  Lemnos,  to  the  harsh-tongued  Sintians." 

He  spoke,  and  pleasant  it  seemed  to  her  to  lie  be- 
side him.  So  the  pair  went  and  laid  them  down  in 
bed,  and  all  about  them  dropped  the  toils  fashioned 
by  shrewd  Hephaestus ;  it  was  not  in  their  power  to 
move  or  raise  a  limb.  This  they  saw  only  then  when 
there  was  no  escape.  But  on  them  came  the  famous 
strong-armed  god,  who  had  turned  back  before  he 
reached  the  land  of  Lemnos ;  for  in  his  stead  the  Sun 
kept  watch  and  told  him  all.  He  hastened  to  the 
house,  with  heavy  heart,  stood  at  the  porch,  wild  rage 
upon  him,  and  raised  a  fearful  cry,  calling  to  all  the 
gods  : 

"  O  Father  Zeus,  and  all  you  other  blessed  gods 
that  live  forever,  come  see  a  sight  for  laughter,  deeds 
not  to  be  endured !  For  I  being  lame,  this  Aphrodite, 
daughter  of  Zeus,  ever  dishonors  me  and  gives  her 
love  to  deadly  Ares,  since  he  is  handsome  and  is  sound 
of  limb,  while  I  was  born  a  cripple.  Yet  nobody  is 
to  blame  for  that  but  my  two  parents,  —  would  they 
had  never  given  me  birth !  But  you  shall  see  where  lie 
the  loving  pair  who  stole  into  my  bed.  I  smart  to  see 
them !  And  yet  I  think  they  will  not  lie  much  longer 
thus,  however  great  their  love.  Shortly  they  will  not 
wish  to  sleep  together  ;  but  still  my  snare  and  mesh 
shall  hold  them,  till  her  father  pays  me  back  the  many 
wedding  gifts  I  gave  to  get  the  shameless  girl,  — 
seeing  his  child  was  fair,  though  not  true-hearted." 


120  THE    ODYSSEY.  [VIII.  321-351. 

He  spoke,  and  the  gods  gathered  at  the  brazen 
threshold  of  his  house.  Poseidon  came,  who  girds  the 
land,  the  fortune-bringer  Hermes  came,  and  the  far- 
working  king  Apollo.  The  goddesses  for  shame  all 
stayed  at  home.  So  at  the  portal  stood  the  gods,  the 
givers  of  good  things,  and  uncontrollable  laughter 
broke  from  the  blessed  gods  as  they  beheld  the  arts 
of  shrewd  Hephaestus ;  and  glancing  at  his  neighbor 
one  would  say  : 

"  Wrong-doing  brings  no  gain.  Slow  catches  swift ; 
as  here  Hephaestus,  who  is  slow,  caught  Ares,  who  is 
swiftest  of  the  gods  that  hold  Olympus,  —  catching 
him  by  his  craft,  though  lame  himself.  Now  Ares 
owes  the  adulterer's  fine." 

So  they  conversed  together.  And  now  to  Hermes 
spoke  the  king,  the  son  of  Zeus,  Apollo  :  "  O  Hermes, 
son  of  Zeus,  guide,  giver  of  good  things,  would  you 
not  like,  though  loaded  down  with  heavy  bonds,  to  lie 
in  bed  by  golden  Aphrodite  ?  ' 

Then  answered  him  the  guide,  the  Speedy-comer : 
"Would  it  might  be,  far-shooting  king  Apollo, 
though  thrice  as  many  bonds,  bonds  numberless, 
should  hold  me  fast,  and  all  you  gods  and  goddesses 
should  come  and  see,  would  I  might  lie  by  golden 
Aphrodite !  ' 

He  spoke,  and  laughter  rose  among  the  immortal 
gods.  But  Poseidon  did  not  laugh  ;  he  earnestly  en- 
treated Hephaestus,  the  great  craftsman,  to  loosen 
Ares.    And  speaking  in  winged  words  he  said : 

"  Loose  him,  and  I  engage,  as  you  desire,  that  he 
shall  pay  all  dues  before  the  immortal  gods." 

Then  said  to  him  the  famous  strong-armed  god: 
"  Poseidon,  girder  of  the  land,  ask  not  for  this.  From 
triflers,  even  pledges  in  the  hand  are   trifles.     How 


VIII.  352-384.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  121 

could  I  hold  you  bound  before  the  immortal  gods,  if 
Ares  should  evade  both  debt  and  bond  and  flee  ? ' 

Then  said  to  him  the  earth-shaker,  Poseidon  : 
"  Hephaestus,  even  if  Ares  does  evade  the  debt  and 
flee,  still  I  myself  will  pay." 

Then  answered  him  the  famous  strong-armed  god  : 
"  I  cannot  and  I  must  not  say  you  nay." 

So  saying,  mighty  Hephaestus  raised  the  net,  and 
the  pair  loosed  from  out  the  net,  so  very  strong, 
sprang  up  forthwith.  He  went  to  Thrace ;  but  she, 
the  laughter-loving  Aphrodite,  came  to  Cyprus,  into 
the  town  of  Paphos,  where  is  her  grove  and  fragrant 
shrine.  There  did  the  Graces  bathe  her  and  anoint 
her  with  imperishable  oil,  such  as  bedews  the  gods 
that  live  forever,  and  they  arrayed  her  in  a  dainty 
robe,  a  marvel  to  behold. 

So  sang  the  famous  bard.  Odysseus  joyed  in  heart 
to  hear,  as  did  the  others  also,  the  Phaeacian  oarsmen, 
notable  men  at  sea. 

And  now  Alcinoiis  called  on  Halius  and  Laodamas 
to  dance  alone,  for  with  them  none  could  vie.  So  tak- 
ing in  their  hands  a  goodly  purple  ball,  which  skill- 
ful Polybus  had  made  them,  one,  bending  backward, 
flung  it  toward  the  dusky  clouds ;  the  other,  leaping 
upward  from  the  earth,  easily  caught  the  ball  before 
his  feet  touched  ground  again.  Then  after  they  had 
tried  the  ball  straight  in  the  air,  they  danced  upon  the 
bounteous  earth  with  tossings  to  and  fro.  Other 
young  men  beat  time  for  them,  standing  around  the 
ring,  and  a  loud  sound  of  stamping  rose.  Then  to 
Alcinoiis  said  royal  Odysseus : 

"Mighty  Alcinoiis,  renowned  of  all,  you  boasted 
that  your  dancers  were  the  best,  and  now  it  is  proved 
true.     I  am  amazed  to  see." 


122  THE    ODYSSEY.  [VIII.  385-417. 

He  spoke ;  revered  Alcinoiis  was  glad,  and  to  the 
Phaeacians,  who  delight  in  oars,  he  straightway  said : 
"  Hearken,  Phaeacian  captains  and  councilors  !  This 
stranger  truly  seems  a  man  of  understanding.  Come 
then,  and  let  us  give  such  guest-gift  as  is  meet. 
Twelve  honored  kings  bear  sway  throughout  the  land 
and  are  its  rulers,  and  a  thirteenth  am  I.  Let  each 
present  him  a  spotless  robe  and  tunic  and  a  talent 
of  precious  gold.  And  let  us  speedily  fetch  all 
together,  so  that  the  stranger,  having  these  in  hand, 
may  come  to  supper  glad  at  heart.  Let  too  Euryalus 
give  satisfaction  to  the  man,  by  word  and  gift,  for  his 
speech  was  unbecoming." 

He  spoke,  and  all  approved  and  gave  their  orders, 
and  for  the  bringing  of  the  gifts  each  man  sent  forth 
his  page.  But  Euryalus  made  answer  to  the  king  and 
said  :  "  Mighty  Alcinoiis,  renowned  of  all,  I  will  in- 
deed give  satisfaction  to  the  stranger,  as  you  bid ;  for 
I  will  give  this  brazen  blade.  Its  hilt  is  silver,  and  a 
sheath  of  fresh-cut  ivory  incloses  it.  Of  great  worth 
he  will  find  it." 

So  saying,  he  put  into  Odysseus'  hands  the  silver- 
studded  sword,  and  speaking  in  winged  words  he  said  : 
"  Hail,  good  old  stranger  !  If  any  word  was  uttered 
that  was  harsh,  straight  let  the  sweeping  winds  bear 
it  away.  But  the  gods  grant  that  you  may  see  your 
wife  and  reach  your  land  ;  for  long  cut  off  from 
friends  you  have  been  meeting  hardship." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said  :  "  You 
too,  my  friend,  all  hail !  May  the  gods  grant  you  for- 
tune, and  may  you  never  miss  the  sword  you  give, 
making  amends  besides  in  what  you  say." 

He  spoke,  and  round  his  shoulders  slung  the  silver- 
studded  sword.     As  the  sun  set,  the  noble  gifts  were 


VIII.  418-449.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  123 

there ;  stately  pages  bore  them  to  the  palace  of  Alci- 
noiis,  where  the  sons  of  good  Alcinoiis,  receiving 
them,  laid  the  fair  gifts  before  their  honored  mother. 
But  for  the  princes  revered  Alcinoiis  led  the  way,  and 
entering  the  house  they  sat  them  down  on  the  high 
seats.     Then  to  Arete  spoke  revered  Alcinoiis  : 

"  Bring  hither,  wife,  a  serviceable  chest,  the  best 
you  have,  and  lay  therein  a  spotless  robe  and  tunic. 
Then  heat  upon  the  fire  a  caldron  for  the  stranger 
and  warm  some  water,  that,  having  bathed  and  seen 
all  gifts  put  safely  by  which  the  gentle  Phaeacians 
brought  him,  he  may  enjoy  the  feast  and  hear  the  sing- 
er's song.  Moreover  I  will  give  him  my  goodly 
golden  chalice,  that  as  he  pours  libations  at  his  hall  to 
Zeus  and  to  the  other  gods  he  may  be  mindful  all  his 
days  of  me." 

He  spoke,  and  Arete  told  the  maids  to  set  a  great 
kettle  on  the  fire  as  quickly  as  they  could.  They  set 
the  kettle  which  supplied  the  bath  upon  the  blazing 
fire,  they  poured  in  water,  put  the  wrood  beneath,  and 
lighted.  Around  the  belly  of  the  kettle  crept  the 
flame,  and  so  the  wrater  warmed.  Meanwhile  Arete 
brought  the  stranger  a  goodly  chest  from  out  the 
chamber ;  she  put  therein  the  beautiful  gifts,  —  the 
clothing  and  the  gold  which  the  Phaeacians  gave,  — 
and  she  herself  put  in  a  robe  and  goodly  tunic,  and 
speaking  in  winged  wTords  she  said  : 

"  Look  to  the  lid  yourself  and  quickly  tie  the  cord, 
lest  some  one  rob  you  on  the  way,  when  sailing  by 
and  by,  on  the  black  ship,  you  rest  in  pleasant  sleep." 

When  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  heard  these  words, 
he  straightway  fitted  on  the  lid  and  quickly  tied  the 
cunning  knot  which  potent  Circe  once  had  taught 
him.     Thereafter  the  housewife  called  him  to  come  to 


124  THE   ODYSSEY.  [VIII.  450-481. 

the  bath  and  bathe  ;  and  he  was  pleased  to  see  the 
steaming  water,  for  he  was  not  used  to  care  like  this 
since  he  had  left  fair-haired  Calypso's  home ;  but 
there  he  had  as  constant  care  as  if  he  were  a  god. 
Now  when  the  maids  had  bathed  him  and  anointed 
him  with  oil  and  put  upon  him  a  goodly  coat  and 
tunic,  forth  from  the  bath  he  came  and  went  to  join 
the  drinkers ;  and  Nausicaa,  with  beauty  given  her 
of  the  gods,  stood  by  a  column  of  the  strong-built 
roof  and  marveled  at  Odysseus  as  she  looked  into 
his  eyes,  and  speaking  in  winged  words  she  said : 

"  Stranger,  farewell !  When  you  are  once  again 
in  your  own  land,  remember  me,  and  how  before  all 
others  it  is  to  me  you  owe  the  saving  of  your  life." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said  :  "  Nau- 
sicaa, daughter  of  generous  Alcinous,  Zeus  grant  it 
so  —  he  the  loud  thunderer,  husband  of  Here  —  that 
I  go  home  and  see  my  day  of  coming.  Then  would  I 
there  too,  as  to  any  god,  give  thanks  to  you  forever, 
all  my  days  ;  for,  maiden,  it  was  you  who  gave  me 
life." 

He  spoke,  and  took  his  seat  by  king  Aleinoiis. 
Men  were  already  serving  food  and  mixing  wine. 
The  page  drew  near,  leading  the  honored  bard,  Demo- 
clocus,  beloved  of  all,  and  seated  him  among  the  feast- 
ers,  backed  by  a  lofty  pillar.  Then  to  the  page  said 
wise  Odysseus,  cutting  a  slice  of  chine,  whereof  still 
more  was  left,  from  out  a  white-toothed  boar,  the  rich 
fat  on  its  sides  : 

"  Page,  set  before  Demodocus  this  piece  of  meat, 
that  he  may  eat  and  I  may  do  him  homage,  sad  though 
I  be  myself ;  for  at  the  hands  of  all  on  earth  bards 
meet  respect  and  honor,  because  the  muse  has  taught 
them  song  and  loves  the  race  of  bards." 


VIII.  482-511.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  125 

He  spoke,  and  the  page  bore  the  food  and  put  it 
in  the  hands  of  lord  Demodocus.  He  took  it  and  was 
glad,  and  on  the  food  spread  out  before  them  they  laid 
hands.  But  after  they  had  stayed  desire  for  drink 
and  food,  then  to  Demodocus  said  wise  Odysseus  : 

"  Demodocus,  I  praise  you  beyond  all  mortal  men, 
whether  your  teacher  was  the  muse,  the  child  of 
Zeus,  or  was  Apollo.  With  perfect  truth  you  sing 
the  lot  of  the  Achaeans,  all  that  they  did  and  bore, 
the  whole  Achaean  struggle,  as  if  yourself  were  there, 
or  you  had  heard  the  tale  from  one  who  was.  Pass 
on  then  now,  and  sing  the  building  of  the  wooden 
horse,  made  by  Epeius  with  Athene's  aid,  which  royal 
Odysseus  once  conveyed  into  the  citadel,  —  a  thing  of 
craft,  filled  full  of  men,  who  by  its  means  sacked  Ilios. 
And  if  you  now  relate  the  tale  in  its  due  order,  forth- 
with I  will  declare  to  all  mankind  how  bounteously 
God  gave  to  you  a  wondrous  power  of  song." 

So  he  spoke.  Thereat  the  other,  stirred  by  the 
god,  began  and  showed  his  skill  in  song  :  starting  the 
story  where  some  Argives  boarding  the  well-benched 
ships  were  setting  sail  and  spreading  fire  through 
the  camp  ;  while  others  still,  under  renowned  Odys- 
seus, lay  in  the  assembly  of  the  Trojans  all  hidden 
in  the  horse  ;  for  the  Trojans  themselves  had  dragged 
it  to  their  citadel.  So  there  it  stood,  while  long  and 
uncertainly  the  people  argued,  seated  around  it. 
Three  plans  were  finding  favor :  either  to  split  the 
hollow  trunk  with  ruthless  axe ;  or  else  to  drag  it  to 
the  height  and  hurl  it  down  the  rocks  ;  or  still  to 
spare  the  monstrous  image,  as  a  propitiation  of  the 
gods.  And  thus  at  last  it  was  to  end ;  for  it  was 
fated  they  should  perish  so  soon  as  their  city  should 
inclose  the  enormous  wooden  horse,  where  all  the  Ar- 


126  THE   ODYSSEY.  [VIII.  512-545. 

give  chiefs  were  lying,  bearing  to  the  Trojans  death 
and  doom.  He  sang  how  they  o'erthrew  the  town, 
these  sons  of  the  Achaeans,  issuing  from  the  horse, 
leaving  their  hollow  ambush.  Each  for  himself,  he 
sang,  pillaged  the  stately  city ;  but  Odysseus  went 
like  Ares  to  the  palace  of  Dei'phobus  with  godlike 
Menelaus ;  and  there,  he  said,  braving  the  fiercest 
fight,  at  last  he  won  the  day  through  resolute  Athene. 

So  sang  the  famous  bard.  Odysseus  melted  into 
tears,  and  all  below  his  eyes  his  cheeks  were  wet. 
And  as  a  woman  wails  and  clings  to  her  dear  husband, 
who  falls  for  town  and  people,  seeking  to  shield  his 
home  and  children  from  the  ruthless  day  ;  seeing  him 
dying,  gasping,  she  flings  herself  on  him  with  a  pier- 
cing cry ;  while  men  behind,  smiting  her  with  their 
spears  on  back  and  shoulder,  force  her  along  to  bond- 
age to  suffer  toil  and  trouble  ;  with  pain  most  pitiful 
her  cheeks  are  thin  ;  so  pitifully  fell  the  tears  beneath 
Odysseus'  brows.  And  yet  he  hid  from  all  the  rest 
the  tears  he  shed  ;  only  Alcinous  marked  him  and 
took  heed,  for  he  sat  near  and  heard  his  deep-drawn 
sighs  ;  and  to  the  Phaeacians,  who  delight  in  oars,  he 
straightway  said  : 

"  Hearken,  Phaeacian  captains  and  councilors,  and 
let  Demodocus  hush  now  the  tuneful  lyre,  because  not 
to  the  pleasure  of  us  all  he  sings  to-da}r ;  for  since  we 
supped  and  since  the  sacred  bard  began,  this  stranger 
has  not  ceased  from  bitter  sighs.  Surely  some  grief 
hovers  about  his  heart.  Let  then  the  bard  cease  sin£- 
ing,  that  all  alike  be  merry,  stranger  and  entertainers, 
for  that  is  better  far ;  since  for  the  worthy  stranger's 
sake  all  things  are  ready  now,  escort  and  friendly 
gifts,  which  we  grant  heartily.  Even  as  a  brother  is 
the  stranger  and  the  suppliant  treated  by  any  man 
who  feels  a  touch  of  wisdom. 


VIII.  540-579.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  127 

M  And  do  not  you,  then,  longer  cautiously  conceal 

what  I  will  ask  ;  plain  speech  is  better.  Tell  me  the 
name  by  which  at  home  your  father  and  mother  called 
you, —  they  and  the  other  folk,  your  townsmen  and 
your  neighbors  ;  for  none  of  all  mankind  can  lack  a 
name,  be  he  of  low  degree  or  high,  when  once  he  has 
been  born  :  since  in  the  very  hour  of  birth  parents  give 
names  to  all.  And  tell  me  of  your  land,  your  home, 
and  city,  that  thither  our  ships  may  bear  you  with  a 
discerning  aim ;  for  on  Phaeacian  ships  there  are  no 
pilots,  nor  are  there  rudders  such  as  other  vessels 
carry,  but  the  ships  understand  the  will  and  mind  of 
man.  They  know  the  cities  and  rich  lands  of  every 
nation,  and  swiftly  they  cross  the  sea-gulf,  shrouded 
in  mist  and  cloud.  On  them  there  is  no  fear  of  beino- 
harmed  or  lost.  Still,  this  is  what  I  heard  Nausi- 
thoiis,  my  father,  tell :  he  said  Poseidon  was  displeased 
because  we  were  safe  guides  for  all  mankind  ;  and  he 
averred  the  god  one  day  would  wreck  a  stanch  ship  of 
the  Phaeacians,  returning  home  from  pilotage  upon 
the  misty  sea,  and  so  would  throw  a  lofty  mound 
about  our  city.  That  was  the  old  man's  tale,  and  this 
God  may  fulfill,  or  else  it  may  go  unfulfilled,  as  pleases 
him.  But  now  declare  me  this  and  plainly  tell  where 
you  have  wandered  and  what  countries  you  have  seen. 
About  the  men  and  stately  towns,  too.  let  me  hear.  — 
what  ones  were  fierce  and  savage,  with  no  regard  for 
right,  what  ones  were  kind  to  strangers  and  reverent 
toward  the  gods.  And  tell  me  why  you  weep  and 
grieve  within  your  breast  on  hearing  of  the  lot  of 
Arrive  Danaans  and  of  Ilios.  This  the  «ods  wrought  ; 
they  spun  the  thread  of  death  for  some,  that  others 
in  the  time  to  come  might  have  a  sons:.  Had  von 
some  relative  who  fell  at  Ilios  ?     One  who  was  dear  ? 


128  THE   ODYSSEY.  [VIII.  580-585. 

some  daughter's  husband  or  wife's  father  ?  —  they 
who  stand  closest  to  us  after  our  flesh  and  blood.  Or 
was  it  perhaps  some  friend  who  pleased  you  well,  a 
gallant  comrade  ?  For  a  friend  with  an  understand- 
ing heart  is  worth  no  less  than  a  brother." 


IX. 

THE    STORY   TOLD   TO   ALCINOUS.  —  THE   CYCLOPS. 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said : 
"  Mighty  Alcinoiis,  renowned  of  all,  surely  it  is  a 
pleasant  thing  to  hear  a  bard  like  this,  one  who  is 
even  like  the  gods  in  voice.  For  more  complete  de- 
light I  think  there  cannot  be  than  when  good  cheer 
possesses  a  whole  people,  and  feasting  through  the 
houses  they  listen  to  a  bard,  seated  in  proper  order, 
while  beside  them  stand  the  tables  supplied  with  bread 
and  meat,  and  dipping  wine  from  out  the  mixer  the 
pourer  bears  it  round  and  fills  the  cups.  That  is  a 
sight  most  pleasing.  Nevertheless  your  heart  inclines 
to  learn  my  grievous  woes,  and  thus  to  make  me  weep 
and  sorrow  more.  What  shall  I  tell  you  first,  then, 
and  what  last  ?  For  many  are  the  woes  the  gods  of 
heaven  have  given  me.  First,  I  will  tell  my  name,  that 
you,  like  all,  may  know  it ;  and  I  accordingly,  seeking 
deliverance  from  my  day  of  doom,  may  be  your  guest- 
friend,  though  my  home  is  far  away.  I  am  Odysseus, 
son  of  Laertes,  who  for  all  craft  am  noted  among  men, 
and  my  renown  reaches  to  heaven.  I  live  in  Ithaca,  a 
land  far  seen ;  for  on  it  is  the  lofty  height  of  Neriton, 
covered  with  waving  woods.  Around  lie  many  is- 
lands, very  close  to  one  another,  —  Doulichion,  Same, 
and  woody  Zacynthus.  Ithaca  itself  lies  low  along 
the  sea,  far  to  the  west,  —  the  others  stretching  east- 
ward, toward  the  dawn,  —  a  rugged  land,  and  yet  a 


130  THE    ODYSSEY.  [IX.  27-59. 

kindly  nurse.  A  sweeter  spot  than  my  own  land  I 
shall  not  see.  Calypso,  a  heavenly  goddess,  sought  to 
keep  me  by  her  side  within  her  hollow  grotto,  desir- 
ing me  to  be  her  husband ;  so  too  Aeaean  Circe,  full 
of  craft,  detained  me  in  her  palace,  desiring  me  to  be 
her  husband  ;  but  they  never  beguiled  the  heart  within 
my  breast.  Nothing  more  sweet  than  home  and  pa- 
rents can  there  be,  however  rich  one's  dwelling  far  in 
a  foreign  land,  cut  off  from  parents.  But  let  me  tell 
you  of  the  grievous  journey  home  which  Zeus  ordained 
me  on  my  setting  forth  from  Troy. 

"  The  wind  took  me  from  Ilios  and  bore  me  to  the 
Ciconians,  to  Ismarus.  There  I  destroyed  the  town 
and  slew  its  men ;  but  from  the  town  we  took  the  wo- 
men and  great  stores  of  treasure,  and  parted  all,  that 
none  might  go  lacking  his  proper  share.  This  done, 
I  warned  our  men  swiftly  to  fly ;  but  they,  in  utter 
folly,  did  not  heed.  Much  wine  was  drunk,  and  they 
slaughtered  on  the  shore  a  multitude  of  sheep  and 
swing-paced,  crook-horned  oxen.  Meanwhile,  escaped 
Ciconians  began  to  call  for  aid  on  those  Ciconians 
who  were  their  neighbors  and  more  numerous  and 
brave  than  they,  —  a  people  dwelling  inland,  skillful 
at  nohtino;  in  chariot  or  on  foot,  as  need  might  be. 
/Accordingly  at  dawn  they  gathered,  thick  as  leaves 
and  flowers  appear  in  spring.  And  now  an  evil  fate 
from  Zeus  beset  our  luckless  men,  causing  us  many 
sorrows ;  for  setting  the  battle  in  array  by  the  swift 
ships,  all  fought  and  hurled  their  brazen  spears  at  one 
another.  AVhile  it  was  morning  and  the  day  grew 
stronger,  we  steadily  kept  them  off  and  held  our 
ground,  though  they  were  more  than  we  ;  but  as  the 
sun  declined,  toward  stalling-time,  then  the  Ciconians 
turned  our  men  and  routed  the  Achaeans.     Six  of  the 


IX.  60-93.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  131 

crew  of  every  ship  fell  in  their  harness  there ;  the  rest 
fled  death  and  doom. 

"  Thence  we  sailed  on  with  aching  hearts,  glad  to 
be  clear  of  death,  though  missing  our  dear  comrades ; 
yet  the  curved  ships  did  not  pass  on  till  we  had  called 
three  times  to  each  poor  comrade  who  died  upon  the 
plain,  cut  off  by  the  Ciconians.  But  now  cloud-gath- 
ering Zeus  sent  the  north  wind  against  our  ships  in  a 
fierce  tempest,  and  covered  with  his  clouds  both  land 
and  sea ;  night  broke  from  heaven.  The  ships  drove 
headlong  onward,  their  sails  torn  into  tatters  by  the 
fury  of  the  wind.  These  sails  we  lowered,  in  ter- 
ror for  our  lives,  and  rowed  the  ships  themselves 
hurriedly  toward  the  land.  There  for  two  nights  and 
days  continuously  we  lay,  gnawing  our  hearts  because 
of  toil  and  trouble.  But  when  the  fair-haired  dawn 
brought  the  third  day,  we  set,  our  masts,  and  hoisting 
the  white  sails  we  sat  us  down,  while  wind  and  helms- 
men kept  us  steady.  And  now  I  should  have  come 
unharmed  to  my  own  native  land,  but  that  the  swell 
and  current,  in  doubling  Maleia,  and  the  north  wind 
turned  me  aside  and  drove  me  past  Cythera. 

"  Thence  for  nine  days  I  drifted  before  the  deadly 
winds  along  the  swarming  sea  ;  but  on  the  tenth  we 
touched  the  land  of  Lotus-eaters,  men  who  make  food 
of  flowers.  So  here  we  went  ashore  and  drew  us 
water,  and  soon  by  the  swift  ships  my  men  prepared 
their  dinner.  Then  after  we  had  tasted  food  and 
drink,  I  sent  some  sailors  forth  to  go  and  learn  what 
men  who  live  by  bread  dwelt  in  the  land,  —  selecting 
two,  and  joining  with  them  a  herald  as  a  third.  These 
straightway  went  and  mingled  with  the  Lotus-eaters, 
and  yet  the  Lotus-eaters  had  no  thought  of  harm 
against  our  men  ;  indeed,   they  gave  them  lotus  to 


132  THE   ODYSSEY.  [IX.  94-128. 

taste  ;  but  whosoever  of  them  ate  the  lotus'  honeyed 
fruit  wished  to  bring  tidings  back  no  more  and  never 
to  leave  the  place,  but  with  the  Lotus-eaters  there  de- 
sired to  stay,  to  feed  on  lotus  and  forget  his  going 
home.  These  men  I  brought  back  weeping  to  the 
ships  by  very  force,  and  dragging  them  under  the 
benches  of  our  hollow  ships  I  bound  them  fast,  and 
bade  my  other  trusty  men  to  hasten  and  embark  on 
the  swift  ships,  that  none  of  them  might  eat  the  lotus 
and  forget  his  going  home.X  Quickly  they  came 
aboard,  took  places  at  the  pins,  and  sitting  in  order 
smote  the  foaming  water  with  their  oars. 

"  Thence  we  sailed  on  with  aching  hearts,  and  came 
to  the  land  of  the  Cyclops,  a  rude  and  lawless  folk, 
who,  trusting  to  the  immortal  gods,  jylant  with  their 
hands  no  plant,  nor  ever  plough,  but  all  things  spring 
unsown  and  without  ploughing,  —  wheat,  barley,  and 
grape-vines  with  wine  in  their  heavy  clusters,  for  rain 
from  Zeus  makes  the  grape  grow.  Among  this  peo- 
ple no  assemblies  meet  ;  they  have  no  stable  laws. 
They  live  on  the  tops  of  lofty  hills  in  hollow  caves ; 
each  gives  the  law  to  his  own  wife  and  children,  and 
for  each  other  they  have  little  care. 

"  Now  a  rough  island  stretches  along  outside  the 
harbor,  not  close  to  the  Cyclops'  coast  nor  yet  far  out, 
covered  with  trees.  On  it  innumerable  wild  goats 
breed ;  no  tread  of  man  disturbs  them  ;  none  comes 
here  to  follow  hounds,  to  toil  through  woods  and 
climb  the  crests  of  hills.  The  island  is  not  held  for 
flocks  or  tillage,  but  all  unsown,  untilled,  it  evermore 
is  bare  of  men  and  feeds  the  bleating  goats.  Among 
the  Cyclops  are  no  red-cheeked  ships,  nor  are  there 
shipwrights  who  might  build  the  well-benched  ships  to 
do  them  service,  sailing  to  foreign  cities  ;  as  usually 


IX.  129-162.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  133 

men  cross  the  sea  in  ships  to  one  another.  With 
ships  they  might  have  worked  the  well-placed  island  ; 
for  it  is  not  at  all  a  worthless  spot,  but  would  bear  all 
things  duly.  For  here  are  meadows  on  the  banks 
of  the  gray  sea,  moist,  with  soft  soil ;  here  vines  could 
never  die  ;  here  is  smooth  ploughing-land ;  a  very 
heavy  crop,  and  always  well  in  season,  might  be 
reaped,  for  the  under  soil  is  rich.  Here  is  a  quiet 
harbor,  never  needing  moorings,  —  throwing  out  an- 
chor-stones or  fastening  cables,  —  but  merely  to  run 
in  and  wait  awhile  till  sailor  hearts  are  ready  and  the 
winds  are  blowing.  Just  at  the  harbor's  head  a  spring 
of  sparkling  water  flows  from  beneath  a  cave  ;  around 
it  poplars  grow.  Here  we  sailed  in,  some  god  our 
guide,  through  murky  night ;  there  was  no  light  to 
see,  for  round  the  ships  was  a  dense  fog.  No  moon 
looked  out  from  heaven ;  it  was  shut  in  with  clouds. 
So  no  one  saw  the  island,  and  the  long  waves  rolling 
upon  the  shore  we  did  not  see  until  we  beached  our 
well-benched  ships.  After  the  ships  were  beached, 
we  lowered  all  our  sails  and  forth  we  went  ourselves 
upon  the  shore  ;  where  falling  fast  asleep  we  awaited 
sacred  dawn. 

"  But  when  the  early  rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared, 
in  wonder  at  the  island  we  made  a  circuit  round 
it,  and  nymphs,  daughters  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus, 
started  the  mountain  goats,  to  give  my  men  a  meal. 
Forthwith  we  took  our  bending  bows  and  our  long 
hunting  spears  from  out  the  ships,  and  parted  in 
three  bands  began  to  shoot ;  and  soon,  God  granted 
ample  game.  Twelve  ships  were  in  my  train ;  to 
each  there  fell  nine  goats,  while  ten  they  set  apart  for 
me  alone.  Then  all  throughout  the  day  till  setting  sun 
we  sat  and  feasted  on  abundant  meat  and  pleasant 


134  THE   ODYSSEY.  [IX.  163-194. 

wine.  For  the  ruddy  wine  of  our  ships  was  not  yet 
spent ;  some  still  was  left,  because  our  crews  took  a 
large  store  in  jars  the  day  we  seized  the  sacred  citadel 
of  the  Ciconians.  And  now  we  looked  across  to  the 
land  of  the  neighboring  Cyclops,  and  marked  the 
smoke,  the  sounds  of  men,  the  bleat  of  sheep  and 
goats ;  but  when  the  sun  went  down  and  darkness 
came,  we  laid  us  down  to  sleep  upon  the  beach.  Then 
as  the  early  rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared,  holding  a 
council,  I  said  to  all  my  men : 

" '  The  rest  of  you,  my  trusty  crews,  stay  for  the 
present  here  ;  but  I  myself,  with  my  own  ship  and 
my  own  crew,  go  to  discover  who  these  men  may  be, 
—  if  they  are  fierce  and  savage,  with  no  regard  for 
right,  or  kind  to  strangers  and  reverent  toward  the 
gods.' 

"  When  I  had  spoken  thus,  I  went  on  board  my 
ship,  and  called  my  crew  to  come  on  board  and  loose 
the  cables.  Quickly  they  came,  took  places  at  the 
pins,  and  sitting  in  order  smote  the  foaming  water 
with  their  oars.  But  as  we  reached  the  neighboring 
shore,  there  at  the  outer  point,  close  to  the  sea,  we 
saw  a  cave,  high,  overhung  with  laurel.  Here  many 
flocks  of  sheep  and  goats  were  nightly  housed. 
Around  was  built  a  yard  with  a  high  wall  of  deep-em- 
bedded stone,  tall  pines,  and  crested  oaks.  Here  a 
«>  man-monster  slept,  who  shepherded  his  flock  alone 
and  far  apart ;  with  others  he  did  not  mingle,  but 
quite  aloof  followed  his  lawless  ways.  Thus  had  he 
grown  to  be  a  marvelous  monster  ;  not  like  a  man  who 
lives  by  bread,  but  rather  like  a  woody  peak  of  the 
high  hills,  seen  single,  clear  of  others. 

"  Now  to  my  other  trusty  men  I  gave  command  to 
stay  there  by  the  ship  and  guard  the  ship  ;  but  I  my- 


IX.  195-227.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  135 

self  chose  the  twelve  best  among  my  men  and  sallied 
forth.  I  had  a  goat-skin  bottle  of  the  dark  sweet 
wine  given  me  by  Maron,  son  of  Evanthes,  priest  of 
Apollo,  who  watches  over  Ismarus.  He  gave  me  this 
because  we  guarded  him  and  his  son  and  wife,  through 
holy  fear  ;  for  he  dwelt  within  the  shady  grove  of 
Phoebus  Apollo.  He  brought  me  splendid  gifts :  of 
fine-wrought  gold  he  gave  me  seven  talents,  gave  me 
a  mixing-bowl  of  solid  silver,  and  afterwards  filled 
me  twelve  jars  with  wine,  sweet  and  unmixed,  a  drink 
for  gods.  None  knew  that  wine  among  the  slaves  and 
hand-maids  of  his  house,  none  but  himself,  his  own 
dear  wife,  and  one  sole  house-dame.  Whenever  they 
drank  the  honeyed  ruddy  wine,  he  filled  a  cup  and 
poured  it  into  twenty  parts  of  water,  and  still  from  the 
bowl  came  a  sweet  odor  of  a  surprising  strength ;  then 
to  refrain  had  been  no  easy  matter.  I  filled  a  large 
skin  full  of  this  and  took  it  with  me,  and  also  took 
provision  in  a  sack ;  for  my  stout  heart  suspected  I 
soon  should  meet  a  man  arrayed  in  mighty  power,  a 
savage,  ignorant  of  rights  and  laws. 

"  Quickly  we  reached  the  cave,  but  did  not  find 
him  there;  for  he  was  tending  his  fat  flock  afield. 
Entering  the  cave,  we  looked  around.  Here  crates 
were  standing,  loaded  down  with  cheese,  and  here 
pens  thronged  with  lambs  and  kids.  In  separate  pens 
each  sort  was  folded :  by  themselves  the  older,  by 
themselves  the  later  born,  and  by  themselves  the 
younglings.  Swimming  with  whey  were  all  the  ves- 
sels, the  well- wrought  pails  and  bowls  in  which  he 
milked.  Here  at  the  very  first  my  men  entreated  me 
to  take  some  cheeses  and  depart ;  then  quickly  to 
drive  the  kids  and  lambs  to  our  swift  ship  out  of  the 
pens,  and  sail  away  over  the  briny  water.     But  I  re- 


136  THE    ODYSSEY.  [IX.  228-259. 

fused,  —  far  better  had  I  yielded,  —  hoping  that  I 
might  see  him  and  he  might  offer  gifts.  But  he  was 
to  prove,  when  seen,  no  pleasure  to  my  men. 

"  Kindling  a  fire  here,  we  made  burnt  offering  and 
we  ourselves  took  of  the  cheese  and  ate  ;  and  so  we 
sat  and  waited  in  the  cave  until  he  came  from  pasture. 
He  brought  a  ponderous  burden  of  dry  wood  to  use 
at  supper  time,  and  tossing  it  down  inside  the  cave 
raised  a  great  din.  We  hurried  off  in  terror  to  a 
corner  of  the  cave.  But  into  the  wide-mouthed  cave 
he  drove  his  sturdy  flock,  all  that  he  milked ;  the 
males,  both  rams  and  goats,  he  left  outside  in  the  high 
yard.  And  now  he  set  in  place  the  huge  door-stone, 
lifting  it  high  in  air,  a  ponderous  thing ;  no  two  and 
twenty  carts,  stanch  and  four-wheeled,  could  start  it 
from  the  ground  ;  such  was  the  rugged  rock  he  set 
against  the  door.  Then  sitting  down,  he  milked  the 
ewes  and  bleating  goats,  all  in  due  order,  and  under- 
neath put  each  one's  young.  Straightway  he  curdled 
half  of  the  white  milk,  and  gathering  it  in  wicker 
baskets,  set  it  by  ;  half  he  left  standing  in  the  pails, 
ready  for  him  to  take  and  drink,  and  for  his  supper 
also.  So  after  he  had  busily  performed  his  tasks,  he 
kindled  a  fire,  noticed  us,  and  asked  : 

" '  Ha,  strangers,  who  are  you  ?  Where  do  }Tou 
come  from,  sailing  the  watery  ways?  Are  you  upon 
some  business  ?  Or  do  you  rove  at  random,  as  the 
pirates  roam  the  seas,  risking  their  lives  and  bringing 
ill  to  strangers  ?  ' 

"  As  he  thus  spoke,  our  very  souls  were  crushed 
within  us,  dismayed  by  the  heavy  voice  and  by  the 
monster's  self  ;  nevertheless  I  answered  thus  and 
said: 

"  i  We  are  from  Troy,  Achaeans,  driven  by  shifting 


IX.  260-289.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  137 

winds  out  of  our  course  across  the  great  gulf  of  the 
sea  ;  homeward  we  fared,  but  through  strange  ways 
and  wanderings  are  come  hither ;  so  Zeus  was  pleased 
to  purpose.  Subjects  of  Agamemnon,  son  of  Atreus, 
we  boast  ourselves  to  be,  whose  fame  is  now  the  widest 
under  heaven ;  so  great  a  town  he  sacked,  so  many 
men  he  slew.  But  chancing  here,  we  come  before 
your  knees  to  ask  that  you  will  offer  hospitality,  and 
in  other  ways  as  well  will  give  the  gift  which  is  the 
stranger's  due.  O  mighty  one,  respect  the  gods.  We 
are  your  suppliants,  and  Zeus  is  the  avenger  of  the 
suppliant  and  the  stranger  ;  he  is  the  stranger's  friend 
and  waits  on  worthy  strangers.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  from  a  ruthless  heart  he  straight- 
way answered :  4  You  are  simple,  stranger,  or  come 
from  far  away,  to  bid  me  dread  the  gods  or  shrink  be- 
fore them.  The  Cyclops  pay  no  heed  to  aegis-bearing 
Zeus,  nor  to  the  blessed  gods ;  because  we  are  much 
stronger  than  themselves.  To  shun  the  wrath  of  Zeus, 
I  would  not  spare  you  or  your  comrades,  did  my  heart 
not  bid.  But  tell  me  where  you  left  your  stanch  ship 
at  your  coming.  At  the  far  shore,  or  near  ?  Let  me 
but  know.' 

"He  thought  to  tempt  me,  but  he  could  not  cheats 
a  knowing  man  like  me ;  and  I  again  replied  with 
words  of  guile  :  '  The  Earth-shaker,  Poseidon,  wrecked 
my  ship  and  cast  her  on  the  rocks  at  the  land's  end, 
drifting  her  on  a  headland ;  the  wind  blew  from  the 
sea  ;  and  I  with  these  men  here  escaped  impending 
ruin.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  from  a  ruthless  heart  he  answered 
nothing,  but  starting  up  laid  hands  on  my  compan- 
ions. He  seized  on  two  and  dashed  them  to  the 
ground  as  if  they  had  been  dogs.     Their  brains  ran 


138  THE   ODYSSEY.  [IX.  290-322. 

out  upon  the  floor,  and  wet  the  earth.  Tearing  them 
limb  from  limb,  he  made  his  supper,  and  ate  as  does 
a  mountain  lion,  leaving  nothing,  entrails,  or  flesh,  or 
marrow  bones.  We  in  our  tears  held  up  our  hands 
to  Zeus,  at  sight  of  his  reckless  deeds ;  helplessness 
held  our  hearts.  But  when  the  Cyclops  had  filled  his 
monstrous  maw  by  eating  human  flesh  and  pouring 
down  pure  milk,  he  laid  himself  in  the  cave  full  length 
among  his  flock.  And  I  then  formed  the  plan  within 
my  daring  heart  of  closing  on  him,  drawing  my  sharp 
sword  from  my  thigh,  and  stabbing  him  in  the  breast 
where  the  midriff  holds  the  liver,  feeling  the  place  out 
with  my  hand.  Yet  second  thoughts  restrained  me, 
for  there  we  too  had  met  with  utter  ruin  ;  for  we 
could  never  with  our  hands  have  pushed  from  the 
lofty  door  the  enormous  stone  which  he  had  set  against 
it.     Thus  then  with  sighs  we  awaited  sacred  dawn. 

"  But  when  the  early  rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared, 
he  kindled  a  fire,  milked  his  goodly  flock,  all  in  due 
order,  and  underneath  put  each  one's  young.  Then 
after  he  had  busily  performed  his  tasks,  seizing  once 
more  two  men,  he  made  his  morning  meal.  And 
when  the  meal  was  ended,  he  drove  from  the  cave  his 
sturdy  flock,  and  easily  moved  the  huge  door-stone  ; 
but  afterwards  he  put  it  back  as  one  might  put  the  lid 
upon  a  quiver.  Then  to  the  hills,  with  many  a  call, 
he  turned  his  sturdy  flock,  while  I  was  left  behind 
brooding  on  evil  and  thinking  how  I  might  obtain  re- 
venge, would  but  Athene  grant  my  prayer.  And  to 
my  mind  this  seemed  the  wisest  way.  There  lay  be- 
side the  pen  a  great  club  of  the  Cyclops,  an  olive  stick 
still  green,  which  he  had  cut  to  be  his  staff  when 
dried.  Inspecting  it,  we  guessed  its  size,  and  thought 
it  like  the  mast  of   a  black  ship  of  twenty  oars,  — 


IX.  323-353.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  139 

some  broad-built  merchantman  which  sails  the  great 
gulf  of  the  sea  ;  so  huge  it  looked  in  length  and  thick- 
ness. I  went  and  cut  away  a  fathom's  length  of  this, 
laid  it  before  my  men,  and  bade  them  shape  it  down ; 
they  made  it  smooth  ;  I  then  stood  by  to  point  the  tip 
and,  laying  hold,  I  charred  it  briskly  in  the  blazing 
fire.  The  piece  I  now  put  carefully  away,  hiding  it  in 
the  dung  which  lay  about  the  cave  in  great  abun- 
dance ;  and  then  I  bade  my  comrades  fix  by  lot  who 
the  bold  men  should  be  to  help  me  raise  the  stake  and 
grind  it  in  his  eye,  when  pleasant  sleep  should  come. 
Those  drew  the  lot  whom  I  myself  would  fain  have 
chosen  ;  four  were  they,  for  a  fifth  I  counted  in  myself. 
He  came  toward  evening,  shepherding  the  fleecy  flock, 
and  forthwith  drove  his  sturdy  flock,  into  the  wide- 
mouthed  cave,  all  with  much  care ;  he  did  not  leave  a 
sheep  in  the  high  yard  outside,  either  through  some 
suspicion,  or  God  bade  him  so  to  do.  <  Again  he  set  in 
place  the  huge  door-stone,  lifting  it  high  in  air,  and, 
sitting  down,  he  milked  the  ewes  and  bleating  goats, 
all  in  due  order,  and  underneath  put  each  one's  young. 
Then  after  he  had  busily  performed  his  tasks,  he 
seized  once  more  two  men  and  made  his  supper.  And 
now  it  was  that  drawing  near  the  Cyclops  I  thus 
spoke,  holding  within  my  hands  an  ivy  bowl  filled 
with  dark  wine  : 

u  '  Here,  Cyclops,  drink  some  wine  after  your  meal 
of  human  flesh,  and  see  what  sort  of  liquor  our  ship 
held.  I  brought  it  as  an  offering,  thinking  that  you 
might  pity  me  and  send  me  home.  But  you  are  mad 
past  bearing.  Reckless !  How  should  a  stranger 
come  to  you  again  from  any  people,  when  you  have 
done  this  wicked  deed  ?  ' 

"  So  I  spoke  ;  he  took  the  cup  and  drank  it  off,  and 


140  THE    ODYSSEY.  [IX.  354-384. 

mightily  pleased  lie  was  with  the  taste  of  the  sweet 
liquor,  and  thus  he  asked  me  for  it  yet  again  : 

"  '  Give  me  some  more,  kind  sir,  and  straightway 
tell  your  name,  that  I  may  give  a  stranger's  gift  with 
which  you  shall  be  pleased.  Ah  yes,  the  Cyclops' 
fruitful  fields  bear  wine  in  their  heavy  clusters,  for 
rain  from  Zeus  makes  the  grape  grow;  but  this  is 
a  bit  of  ambrosia  and  nectar.' 

"  So  he  spoke,  and  I  again  offered  the  sparkling 
wine.  Three  times  I  brought  and  gave  ;  three  times 
he  drank  it  in  his  folly.  Then  as  the  wine  began  to 
dull  the  Cyclops'  senses,  in  winning  words  I  said  to 
him  : 

"  '  Cyclops,  you  asked  my  noble  name,  and  I  will 
tell  it ;  but  do  you  give  the  stranger's  gift,  just  as  you 
promised.  My  name  is  Noman.  Noman  I  am  called 
by  mother,  father,  and  by  all  my  comrades.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  from  a  ruthless  heart  he  straight- 
way answered :  '  Noman  I  eat  up  last,  after  his  com- 
rades ;  all  the  rest  first ;  and  that  shall  be  the  stran- 
ger's gift  for  you.' 

"  He  spoke,  and  sinking  back  fell  flat ;  and  there  he 
lay,  lolling  his  thick  neck  over,  till  sleep,  that  conquers 
all,  took  hold  upon  him.  Out  of  his  throat  poured 
wine  and  scraps  of  human  flesh  ;  heavy  with  wine,  he 
spewed  it  forth.  And  now  it  was  I  drove  the  stake 
under  a  heap  of  ashes,  to  bring  it  to  a  heat,  and  with 
my  words  emboldened  all  my  men,  that  none  might 
flinch  through  fear.  Then  when  the  olive  stake,  green 
though  it  was,  was  ready  to  take  fire,  and  through  and 
through  was  all  aglow,  I  snatched  it  from  the  fire, 
while  my  men  stood  around  and  Heaven  inspired  us 
with  great  courage.  Seizing  the  olive  stake,  sharp  at 
the  tip,  they  plunged  it  in  his  eye,  and  I,  perched  up 


IX.  385-416.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  141 

above,  whirled  it  around.  As  when  a  man  bores  ship- 
beams  with  a  drill,  and  those  below  keep  it  in  motion 
with  a  strap  held  by  the  ends,  and  steadily  it  runs ; 
even  so  we  seized  the  fire-pointed  stake  and  whirled  it 
in  his  eye.  Blood  bubbled  round  the  heated  thing. 
The  vapor  singed  off  all  the  lids  around  the  eye, 
and  even  the  brows,  as  the  ball  burned  and  its  roots 
crackled  in  the  flame.  As  when  a  smith  dips  a  great 
axe  or  adze  into  cold  water,  hissing  loud,  to  temper  it, 
—  for  that  is  strength  to  steel,  —  so  hissed  his  eye  about 
the  olive  stake.  A  hideous  roar  he  raised  ;  the  rock 
resounded ;  we  hurried  off  in  terror.  He  wrenched  the 
stake  from  out  his  eye,  all  dabbled  with  the  blood,  and 
flung  it  from  his  hands  in  frenzy.  Then  he  called 
loudly  on  the  Cyclops  who  dwelt  about  him  in  the 
caves,  along  the  windy  heights.  They  heard  his  cry, 
and  ran  from  every  side,  and  standing  by  the  cave 
they  asked  what  ailed  him  : 

" '  What  has  come  on  you,  Polyphemus,  that  you 
scream  so  in  the  immortal  night,  and  keep  us  thus 
from  sleeping  ?  Is  a  man  driving  off  your  flocks  in 
spite  of  you  ?  Is  a  man  murdering  you  by  craft  or 
force  ? ' 

"  Then  in  his  turn  from  out  the  cave  big  Polyphe- 
mus answered  :  4  Friends,  Noman  is  murdering  me  by 
craft.     Force  there  is  none.' 

"  But  answering  him  in  winged  words  they  said : 
1  If  no  man  harms  you  then  when  you  are  left  alone, 
illness  which  comes  from  mighty  Zeus  you  cannot  fly. 
But  make  your  prayer  to  your  father,  lord  Poseidon.' 

"  This  said,  they  went  their  wray,  and  in  my  heart 
I  laughed,  —  my  name,  that  clever  notion,  so  deceived 
them.  But  now  the  Cyclops,  groaning  and  in  agonies 
of  anguish,  by  groping  with  his  hands  took  the  stone 


142  THE    ODYSSEY.  [IX.  417-448. 

off  the  door,  yet  sat  himself  inside  the  door  with  hands 
outstretched,  to  catch  whoever  ventured  forth  among 
the  sheep ;  for  he  probably  hoped  in  his  heart  that  I 
should  be  so  silly.  But  I  was  planning  how  it  all 
might  best  be  ordered  that  I  might  win  escape  from 
death  both  for  my  men  and  me.  So  many  a  plot  and 
scheme  I  framed,  as  for  my  life  ;  great  danger  was  at 
hand.  Then  to  my  mind  this  seemed  the  wisest  way : 
some  rams  there  were  of  a  good  breed,  thick  in  the 
fleece,  handsome  and  large,  which  bore  a  dark  blue 
wool.  These  I  quietly  bound  together  with  the  twisted 
willow  withes  on  which  the  giant  Cyclops  slept,  — 
the  brute,  —  taking  three  sheep  together.  One,  in 
the  middle,  carried  the  man ;  the  other  two  walked  by 
the  sides,  keeping  my  comrades  safe.  Thus  three 
sheep  bore  each  man.  Then  for  myself,  —  there  was 
a  ram,  by  far  the  best  of  all  the  flock,  whose  back  I 
grasped,  and  curled  beneath  his  shaggy  belly  there 
I  lay,  and  with  my  hands  twisted  in  that  enormous 
fleece  I  steadily  held  on,  with  patient  heart.  Thus 
then  with  sighs  we  awaited  sacred  dawn. 

"  Soon  as  the  early  rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared,  the 
rams  hastened  to  pasture,  but  the  ewes  bleated  un- 
milked  about  the  pens,  for  their  udders  were  well- 
nigh  bursting.  Their  master,  racked  with  grievous 
pains,  felt  over  the  backs  of  all  the  sheep  as  they 
stood  up,  but  foolishly  did  not  notice  how  under  the 
breasts  of  the  woolly  sheep  men  had  been  fastened. 
Last  of  the  flock,  the  ram  walked  to  the  door,  cramped 
by  his  fleece  and  me  the  crafty  plotter ;  and  feeling 
him  over,  big  Polyphemus  said  : 

"  '  What,  my  pet  ram  !  Why  do  you  move  across 
the  cave  hindmost  of  all  the  flock?  Till  now  you 
never  lagged  behind,  but  with  your  long  strides  you 


IX.  449-479.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  143 

were  always  first  to  crop  the  tender  blooms  of  grass  ; 
you  were  the  first  to  reach  the  running  streams,  and 
first  to  wish  to  turn  to  the  stall  at  night :  yet  here  you 
are  the  last.  Ah,  but  you  miss  your  master's  eye, 
which  a  villain  has  put  out,  —  he  and  his  vile  compan- 
ions, —  blunting  my  wits  with  wine.  Noman  it  was, 
—  not,  I  assure  him,  safe  from  destruction  yet.  If 
only  you  could  sympathize  and  get  the  power  of  speech 
to  say  where  he  is  skulking  from  my  rage,  then  should 
that  brain  of  his  be  knocked  about  the  cave  and  dashed 
upon  the  ground.  So  might  my  heart  recover  from 
the  ills  which  miserable  Noman  brought  upon  me.' 

"  So  saying,  from  his  hand  he  let  the  ram  go  forth ; 
and  after  we  were  come  a  little  distance  from  the  cave 
and  from  the  yard,  first  from  beneath  the  ram  I  freed 
myself  and  then  set  free  my  comrades.  So  at  quick 
pace  we  drove  away  those  long-legged  sheep,  heavy 
with  fat,  many  times  turning  round,  until  we  reached 
the  ship.  A  welcome  sight  we  seemed  to  our  dear 
friends,  as  men  escaped  from  death.  Yet  for  the 
others  they  began  to  weep  and  wail ;  but  this  I  did 
not  suffer  ;  by  my  frowns  I  checked  their  tears.  In- 
stead, I  bade  them  straightway  toss  the  many  fleecy 
sheep  into  the  ship,  and  sail  away  over  the  briny 
water.  Quickly  they  came,  took  places  at  the  pins, 
and  sitting  in  order  smote  the  foaming  water  with 
their  oars.  But  when  I  was  as  far  away  as  one  can 
call,  I  shouted  to  the  Cyclops  in  derision  : 

"  4  Cyclops,  no  weakling's  comrades  you  were  des- 
tined to  devour  in  the  deep  cave,  with  brutal  might. 
But  it  was  also  destined  -your  bad  deeds  should  find 
you  out,  audacious  wrretch,  who  did  not  hesitate  to  eat 
the  guests  within  your  house  !  For  this  did  Zeus 
chastise  you,  Zeus  and  the  other  gods.' 


144  THE    ODYSSEY.  [IX.  480-511. 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  he  was  angered  in  his  heart  the 
more  ;  and  tearing  off  the  top  of  a  high  hill,  he  flung 
it  at  us.  It  fell  before  the  dark-bowed  ship  a  little 
space,  but  failed  to  reach  the  rudder's  tip.  The  sea 
surged  underneath  the  stone  as  it  came  down,  and 
swiftly  toward  the  land  the  wash  of  water  swept  us, 
like  a  flood-tide  from  the  deep,  and  forced  us  back  to 
shore.  I  seized  a  settiug-pole  and  shoved  the  vessel 
off  ;  then  inspiriting  my  men,  I  bade  them  fall  to  their 
oars  that  we  might  flee  from  danger,  —  with  my  head 
making  signs,  —  and  bending  forward,  on  they  rowed. 
When  we  had  traversed  twice  the  distance  on  the  sea, 
again  to  the  Cyclops  would  I  call ;  but  my  men,  gath- 
ering round,  sought  with  soft  words  to  stay  me,  each 
in  his  separate  wise  : 

"  '  O  reckless  man,  why  seek  to  vex  this  savage, 
who  even  now,  hurling  his  missile  in  the  deep,  drove 
the  ship  back  to  shore  ?  We  verily  thought  that  we 
were  lost.  And  had  he  heard  a  man  make  but  a 
sound  or  speak,  he  would  have  crushed  our  heads  and 
our  ships'  beams,  by  hurling  jagged  granite  stone  ;  for 
he  can  throw  so  far.' 

"  So  they  spoke,  but  did  not  move  my  daring  spirit ; 
again  I  called  aloud  out  of  an  angry  heart :  '  Cyclops, 
if  ever  mortal  man  asks  you  the  story  of  the  ugly 
blinding  of  your  eye,  say  that  Odysseus  made  you 
blind,  the  spoiler  of  cities,  Laertes'  son,  whose  home 
is  Ithaca.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  with  a  groan  he  answered  :  i  Ah, 
surely  now  the  ancient  oracles  are  come  upon  me  ! 
Here  once  a  prophet  lived,  a  prophet  brave  and  tall, 
Telemus,  son  of  Eurymus,  who  by  his  prophecies  ob- 
tained renown  and  in  prophetic  works  grew  old  among 
the  Cyclops.     He  told  me  it  should  come  to  pass  in 


IX.  512-542.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  145 

aftertime  that  I  should  lose  my  sight  by  means  of  one 
Odysseus  ;  but  I  was  always  watching  for  the  coming 
of  some  tall  and  comely  person,  arrayed  in  mighty 
power ;  and  now  a  little  miserable  feeble  creature 
blinded  me  of  my  eye,  overcoming  me  with  wine. 
Nevertheless,  come  here,  Odysseus,  and  let  me  give 
the  stranger's  gift,  and  beg  the  famous  Land-shaker 
to  aid  you  on  your  way.  His  son  am  I ;  he  calls  him- 
self my  father.  He,  if  he  will,  shall  heal  me ;  none 
else  can,  whether  among  the  blessed  gods  or  mortal 
men.' 

"  So  he  spoke,  and  answering  him  said  I :  '  Ah, 
would  I  might  as  surely  strip  you  of  life  and  being 
and  send  you  to  the  house  of  Hades,  as  it  is  sure  the 
Earth-shaker  will  never  heal  your  eye  !  ' 

"  So  I  spoke,  whereat  he  prayed  to  lord  Poseidon, 
stretching  his  hands  forth  toward  the  starry  sky : 
'  Hear  me,  thou  girder  of  the  land,  dark-haired  Posei- 
don !  If  I  am  truly  thine,  and  thou  art  called  my 
father,  vouchsafe  no  coming  home  to  this  Odysseus, 
spoiler  of  cities,  Laertes'  son,  whose  home  is  Ithaca. 
Yet  if  it  be  his  lot  to  see  his  friends  once  more,  and 
reach  his  stately  house  and  native  land,  late  let  him 
come,  in  evil  plight,  with  loss  of  all  his  crew,  on  the 
vessel  of  a  stranger,  and  may  he  at  his  home  find  trou- 
ble.' 

"  So  spoke  he  in  his  prayer,  and  the  dark-haired 
god  gave  ear.  Then  once  more  jricking  up  a  stone 
much  larger  than  before,  the  Cyclops  swung  and  sent 
it,  putting  forth  stupendous  power.  It  fell  behind  the 
dark-bowed  ship  a  little  space,  but  failed  to  reach  the 
rudder's  tip.  The  sea  surged  underneath  the  stone  as 
it  came  down,  but  the  wave  swept  us  forward  and 
forced  us  to  the  shore. 


146  THE    ODYSSEY.  [IX.  543-566. 

"  Now  when  we  reached  the  island  where  our  other 
well-benched  ships  waited  together,  while  their  crews 
sat  round  them  sorrowing,  watching  continually  for 
us,  as  we  ran  in  we  beached  our  ship  among  the  sands, 
and  forth  we  went  ourselves  upon  the  shore.  Then 
taking  the  Cyclops'  sheep  out  of  the  hollow  ship,  we 
parted  all,  that  none  might  go  lacking  his  proper 
share.  The  ram  my  mailed  companions  gave  to  me 
alone,  a  mark  of  special  honor  iu  the  division  of  the 
flock ;  and  on  the  shore  I  offered  him  to  Zeus  of  the 
dark  cloud,  the  son  of  Kronos,  who  is  the  lord  of  all, 
burning  the  thighs.  He  did  not  heed  the  sacrifice. 
Instead,  he  purposed  that  my  well-benched  ships 
should  all  be  lost,  and  all  my  trusty  comrades.  But 
all  throughout  that  day  till  setting  sun  we  sat  and 
feasted  on  abundant  meat  and  pleasant  wine ;  and 
when  the  sun  went  down  and  darkness  came,  we  laid 
us  down  to  sleep  upon  the  beach.  Then  as  the  early 
rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared,  inspiriting  my  men,  I 
bade  them  come  on  board  and  loose  the  cables. 
Quickly  they  came,  took  places  at  the  pins,  and  sit- 
ting in  order  smote  the  foaming  water  with  their  oars. 

"  Thence  we  sailed  on,  with  aching  hearts,  glad  to 
be  clear  of  death,  though  missing  our  dear  comrades." 


■ 


X. 

AEOLUS,    THE   LAESTRYGONIANS,    AND   CIRCE. 

"  Soon  we  drew  near  the  island  of  Aeolia,  where 
Aeolus,  the  son  of  Hippotas,  dear  to  immortal  gods, 
dwelt  on  a  floating  island.  All  round  it  is  a  wall  of 
bronze,  not  to  be  broken  through,  and  smooth  and 
steep  rises  the  rocky  shore.  Within  the  house  of 
Aeolus,  twelve  children  have  been  born,  six  daughters 
and  six  sturdy  sons,  and  here  he  gave  his  daughters  to 
his  sons  to  be  their  wives.  Here  too  with  their  loved 
father  and  honored  mother  they  hold  continual  feast- 
ing; before  them  countless  viands  lie.  By  day  the 
steaming  house  resounds  even  to  its  court ;  by  night 
they  sleep  by  their  chaste  wives  under  the  coverlets  on 
well-bored  bedsteads.  Their  city  it  was  we  reached, 
their  goodly  dwelling.  For  a  full  month  he  made  me 
welcome,  and  he  questioned  me  of  all,  of  Ilios,  the  Ar- 
give  ships,  and  the  return  of  the  Achaeans.  So  I  re- 
lated all  the  tale  in  its  due  order.  And  when  I  fur- 
thermore asked  him  about  my  journey  and  entreated 
him  for  aid,  he  did  not  say  me  nay,  but  made  provi- 
sion for  my  going.  He  gave  me  a  sack,  —  flaying 
therefor  a  nine-year  ox,  —  and  in  it  bound  the  courses 
of  the  blustering  winds ;  for  the  son  of  Kronos  made 
him  steward  of  the  winds,  to  stay  or  rouse  which  one 
he  would.  Upon  my  hollow  ship  he  tied  the  sack  with 
a  bright  cord  of  silver,  that  not  a  breath  might  stir, 
however  little.     Then  for  my  aid  he  sent  the  west 


148  THE   ODYSSEY.  [X.  25-57. 

wind  forth,  to  blow  and  bear  along  my  ships  and  men. 
But  it  was  not  to  be  ;  by  our  folly  we  were  lost. 

"  Nine  days  we  sailed,  as  well  by  night  as  day. 
Upon  the  tenth  our  native  fields  appeared,  so  close  at 
hand  that  we  could  see  men  tending  fires.  Then  sweet 
sleep  overcame  me,  wearied  as  I  was ;  for  I  had  all 
the  time  managed  the  vessel's  sheet  and  yielded  it  to 
no  one  else  among  the  crew,  that  so  we  might  the 
sooner  reach  our  native  land.  Meanwhile  my  men 
began  to  talk  with  one  another,  and  to  tell  how  I  was 
bringing  gold  and  silver  home  as  gifts  from  Aeolus, 
the  generous  son  of  Hippotas  ;  and  glancing  at  his 
neighbor  one  would  say : 

"  '  Lo,  how  this  man  is  welcomed  and  esteemed  by 
all  mankind,  come  to  whose  town  and  land  he  may ! 
He  brings  a  store  of  goodly  treasure  out  of  the  spoils 
of  Troy,  while  wre,  wTho  toiled  along  the  selfsame  road, 
come  home  with  empty  hands.  Now  Aeolus  gives  him 
friendly  gifts.  Come,  then,  and  let  us  quickly  see 
what  there  is  here,  and  how  much  gold  and  silver  the 
sack  holds.' 

"  Such  was  their  talk,  and  the  ill  counsel  of  the 
crew  prevailed ;  they  loosed  the  sack,  and  out  rushed 
all  the  winds.  Straightway  a  sweeping  storm  bore  off 
to  sea  my  weeping  comrades,  far  from  their  native 
land.  And  I,  awaking,  hesitated  in  my  gallant  heart 
whether  to  cast  myself  out  of  the  ship  into  the  sea  and 
perish  there,  or  saying  nothing  to  endure  and  bide 
among  the  living.  I  forced  myself  to  stay ;  covering 
my  head,  I  laid  me  down,  the  while  the  ships  were 
driven  by  the  cruel  storm  of  wind  back  to  the  island 
of  Aeolia,  my  comrades  sighing  sore. 

"  So  here  we  went  ashore  and  drew  us  water,  and 
soon  by  the  swift   ships  my   men  prepared  a  meal. 


X.  58-87.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  149 

Then  after  we  had  tasted  food  and  drink,  taking  a 
herald  and  a  comrade  with  me,  I  turned  me  toward 
the  lordly  house  of  Aeolus.  I  found  him  at  the  feast, 
beside  his  wife  and  children.  We  entered  the  hall 
and  on  the  threshold  by  the  doorposts  sat  us  down ; 
and  they  all  marveled  in  their  hearts  and  questioned : 

"  4  How  came  you  here,  Odysseus  ?  What  hostile 
power  assailed  you  ?  With  care  we  sent  you  forth, 
to  let  you  reach  your  land  and  home  or  anywhere  you 
pleased.' 

"  So  they  spoke,  and  with  an  aching  heart  I  an- 
swered :  '  A  wicked  crew  betrayed  me  —  they  and  a 
cruel  sleep.  But  heal  my  woes,  my  friends,  for  you 
have  power.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  addressing  them  in  humble  words. 
Then  all  the  rest  were  silent,  but  the  father  answered 
thus  :  '  Out  of  the  island  instantly,  vilest  of  all  that 
live !  I  may  not  aid  or  send  upon  his  way  a  man 
detested  by  the  blessed  gods.  Begone !  for  you  are 
here  because  detested  by  the  immortals.' 

"  Therewith  he  turned  me  loud  lamenting  from  his 
door.  Thence  we  sailed  on,  with  aching  hearts.  Worn 
was  the  spirit  of  my  men  under  the  heavy  rowing, 
caused  by  our  folly  too  ;  aid  on  our  way  appeared  no 
more. 

"  Six  days  we  sailed,  as  well  by  night  as  day,  and 
on  the  seventh  came  to  the  steep  citadel  of  Lamos, 
Telep}dus  in  Laestrygonia,  where  one  shepherd  lead- 
ing home  his  flock  calls  to  another,  and  the  other  an- 
swers as  he  leads  his  own  flock  forth.  Here  a  man 
who  never  slept  might  earn  a  double  wage :  this,  herd- 
ing kine ;  that,  tending  silvery  sheep  ;  so  close  are  the 
outgoings  of  the  night  and  day.  Now  when  we 
reached  the  splendid  harbor,  —  round  which  the  rock 


150  THE   ODYSSEY.  [X.  88-121. 

runs  steep,  continuous  all  the  way,  and  the  projecting 
cliffs,  facing  each  other,  stretch  forward  at  the  mouth, 
and  narrow  is  the  entrance,  —  into  the  basin  all  the 
rest  steered  their  curved  ships,  and  so  the  ships  lay  in 
the  hollow  harbor  close-anchored,  side  by  side  ;  for  no 
wave  swelled  within  it,  large  or  small,  but  a  clear  calm 
was  all  around.  I  alone  posted  my  black  ship  with- 
out the  harbor,  there  at  the  point,  lashing  my  cables 
to  the  rock.  Then  climbing  up,  I  took  my  stand  on  a 
rugged  point  of  outlook.  From  it  no  work  of  man  or 
beast  was  to  be  seen,  only  we  saw  some  smoke  ascend- 
ing from  the  ground.  So  I  sent  sailors  forth  to  go 
and  learn  what  men  who  live  by  bread  dwelt  in  the 
land, —  selecting  two,  and  joining  with  them  a  herald 
as  a  third.  Leaving  the  ship,  they  took  a  beaten 
road  where  carts  brought  timber  from  the  lofty  hills 
down  to  the  town  below.  Before  the  town  they  met  a 
maiden  drawing  water,  the  stately  daughter  of  the 
Laestrygonian  Antiphates.  She  had  come  down  to 
the  clear-flowing  fountain  of  Artacia,  from  which  they 
used  to  fetch  the  water  for  the  town.  So  my  men, 
drawing  near,  addressed  her  and  inquired  who  was  the 
kins:  of  the  folk  here  and  whom  he  ruled  ;  whereat  she 
pointed  to  her  father's  high-roofed  house.  But  when 
they  entered  the  lordly  hall,  they  found  a  woman  there 
huge  as  a  mountain  peak ;  at  her  they  were  aghast. 
Forthwith  she  called  from  the  assembly  noble  Anti- 
phates, her  husband,  who  sought  to  bring  upon  my 
men  a  miserable  end.  Straight  seizing  one,  he  made 
his  meal  of  him  ;  and  the  two  others,  dashing  off,  came 
flying  to  the  ships.  Thereat  he  raised  a  cry  through- 
out the  town,  and  hearing  it,  the  mighty  Laestrygo- 
nians  gathered  from  here  and  there,  seeming  not  men 
but  giants.     Then  from  the  rocks  they  hurled  down 


X.  122-155.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  151 

ponderous  stones ;  and  soon  among  the  ships  arose  a 
dreadful  din  of  dying  men  and  crashing  ships.  As 
men  spear  fish,  they  gathered  in  their  loathsome  meal. 
But  while  they  slaughtered  these  in  the  deep  harbor, 
I  drew  my  sharp  sword  from  my  thigh  and  cut  the 
cables  of  my  dark-bowed  ship  ;  and  quickly  inspiriting 
my  men,  I  bade  them  fall  to  their  oars,  that  we  might 
flee  from  danger.  They  all  tossed  up  the  water,  in 
terror  for  their  lives,  and  cheerily  to  sea,  away  from 
the  beetling  cliff,  my  ship  sped  on ;  but  all  the  other 
ships  went  down  together  there. 

"  Thence  we  sailed  on  with  aching  hearts,  glad  to 
be  clear  of  death,  though  missing  our  dear  comrades. 
And  now  we  reached  the  island  of  Aeaea,  where  fair- 
haired  Circe  dwelt,  a  mighty  goddess,  human  of  speech. 
She  was  own  sister  of  the  sorcerer  Aeetes  ;  both  were 
the  children  of  the  beaming  Sun  and  of  a  mother 
Perse,  the  daughter  of  Oceanus.  Here  we  bore  land- 
ward with  our  ship  and  ran  in  silence  into  a  sheltering 
harbor,  God  our  guide.  Landing,  we  lay  two  days 
and  nights,  gnawing  our  hearts  because  of  toil  and 
trouble ;  but  when  the  fair-haired  dawn  brought  the 
third  day,  I  took  my  spear  and  my  sharp  sword,  and 
from  the  ship  walked  briskly  up  to  a  place  of  distant 
view,  hoping  to  see  some  work  of  man  or  catch  some 
voice.  So  climbing  up,  I  took  my  stand  on  a  rugged 
point  of  outlook,  and  smoke  appeared  rising  from 
open  ground  at  Circe's  dwelling,  through  some  oak 
thickets  and  a  wood.  Then  for  a  time  I  doubted  in 
my  mind  and  heart  whether  to  go  and  search  the  mat- 
ter while  I  saw  the  flaring  smoke.  Eeflecting  thus, 
it  seemed  the  better  way  first  to  return  to  the  swift 
ship  and  to  the  shore  ;  there  give  my  men  their  din- 
ner, and  send  them  forth  to  search. 


152  THE    ODYSSEY.  [X.  156-189. 

"  But  on  my  way,  as  I  drew  near  to  the  curved 
ship,  some  god  took  pity  on  me  all  forlorn,  and  sent  a 
high-horned  deer  into  my  very  path.  From  feeding 
in  the  wood  he  came  to  the  stream  to  drink,  for  the 
sun's  power  oppressed  him.  As  he  stepped  out,  I 
struck  him  in  the  spine  midway  along  the  back ;  the 
bronze  spear  pierced  him  through  ;  down  in  the  dust 
he  fell  with  a  moan,  and  his  life  flew  away.  Setting 
my  foot  upon  him,  I  drew  from  the  wound  the  brazen 
spear  and  laid  it  on  the  ground  ;  then  I  plucked  twigs 
and  osiers,  and  wove  a  rope  a  fathom  long,  twisted 
from  end  to  end,  with  which  I  bound  together  the  mon- 
strous creature's  legs.  So  with  him  upon  my  back  I 
walked  to  the  black  ship  leaning  upon  my  spear,  be- 
cause it  was  not  possible  to  hold  him  with  my  hand 
upon  my  shoulder  ;  for  the  beast  was  very  large.  Be- 
fore the  ship  I  threw  him  down  and  then  with  cheer- 
ing words  aroused  my  men,  standing  by  each  in  turn  : 

"  4  We  shall  not,  friends,  however  sad,  go  to  the 
halls  of  Hades  until  our  destined  day.  But  while 
there  still  is  food  and  drink  in  the  swift  ship,  let  us 
attend  to  eating  and  not  waste  away  with  hunger.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  my  words  they  quickly  heeded. 
Throwing  their  coverings  off  upon  the  shore  beside 
the  barren  sea,  they  gazed  upon  the  deer ;  for  the  beast 
was  very  large.  Then  after  they  had  satisfied  their 
eyes  with  gazing,  they  washed  their  hands  and  made 
a  glorious  feast.  Thus  all  throughout  the  day  till  set- 
ting sun  we  sat  and  feasted  on  abundant  meat  and 
pleasant  wine  ;  and  when  the  sun  went  down  and 
darkness  came,  we  laid  us  down  to  sleep  upon  the 
beach.  Then  as  the  early  rosy-fingered  dawn  ap- 
peared, holding  a  council,  I  said  to  all  my  men  : 

" '  My  suffering  comrades,  hearken  to  my  words  : 


X.  190-222.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  153 

for  since,  my  friends,  we  do  not  know  the  place  of 
dusk  or  dawn,  the  place  at  which  the  beaming  sun 
goes  under  ground  nor  where  he  rises,  let  us  at  once 
consider  if  a  wise  course  is  left.  I  do  not  think  there 
is ;  for  I  saw,  on  climbing  to  a  rugged  outlook,  an  is- 
land which  the  boundless  deep  encircles  like  a  crown. 
Low  in  the  sea  it  lies ;  midway  across,  I  saw  a  smoke 
through  some  oak  thickets  and  a  wood.' 

"  As  I  thus  spoke,  their  very  souls  were  crushed 
within  them,  remembering  the  deeds  of  Laestrygonian 
Antiphates  and  the  cruelty  of  the  daring  Cyclops,  the 
devourer  of  men.  They  cried  aloud  and  let  the  big 
tears  fall  ;  but  no  good  came  to  them  from  their  la- 
menting. 

"  Now  the  whole  body  of  my  mailed  companions  I 
told  off  in  two  bands,  and  to  each  band  assigned  a 
leader  :  the  one  I  led,  godlike  Eurylochus  the  other. 
Straightway  we  shook  the  lots  in  a  bronze  helmet, 
and  the  lot  of  bold  Eurylochus  leapt  out  the  first. 
So  he  departed,  two  and  twenty  comrades  following, 
all  in  tears ;  and  us  they  left  in  sorrow  too  behind. 
Within  the  glades  they  found  the  house  of  Circe,  built 
of  smooth  stone  upon  commanding  ground.  All  round 
about  were  mountain  wolves  and  lions,  which  Circe 
had  charmed  by  giving  them  evil  drugs.  These  crea- 
tures did  not  spring  upon  my  men,  but  stood  erect, 
wagging  their  long  tails,  fawning.  As  hounds  fawn 
round  their  master  when  he  comes  from  meat,  because 
he  always  brings  them  dainties  that  they  like,  so  round 
these  men  the  strong-clawed  wolves  and  lions  fawned. 
Still  my  men  trembled  at  the  sight  of  the  strange 
beasts.  They  stood  before  the  door  of  the  fair-haired 
goddess,  and  in  the  house  heard  Circe  singing  with 
sweet  voice,  while  tending  her  great  imperishable  loom 


154  THE   ODYSSEY.  [X.  223-252. 

and  weaving  webs,  fine,  beautiful,  and  lustrous  as  are 
the  works  of  gods.  Polites  was  the  first  to  speak,  one 
ever  foremost,  and  one  to  me  the  nearest  and  the  dear- 
est of  my  comrades  : 

"  '  Ah,  friends,  somebody  in  the  house  is  tending  a 
great  loom  and  singing  sweetly ;  all  the  pavement 
rings.  It  is  a  god  or  woman.  Then  let  us  quickly 
call.' 

"  He  spoke,  the  others  lifted  up  their  voice  and 
called ;  and  suddenly  coming  forth,  she  opened  the 
shining:  doors  and  bade  them  in.  The  rest  all  fol- 
lowed,  heedless.  Only  Eurylochus  remained  behind, 
suspicious  of  a  snare.  She  led  them  in  and  seated 
them  on  couches  and  on  chairs,  and  made  a  potion  for 
them,  —  cheese,  barley,  and  yellow  honey,  stirred  into 
Pramnian  wine,  —  but  mingled  with  the  food  perni- 
cious drugs,  to  make  them  quite  forget  their  native 
land.  Now  after  she  had  given  the  cup  and  they  had 
drunk  it  off,  straight  with  a  wand  she  smote  them  and 
penned  them  up  in  sties ;  and  they  took  on  the  heads 
of  swine,  the  voice,  the  bristles,  and  even  the  shape,  yet 
was  their  reason  as  sound  as  heretofore.  Thus,  weep- 
ing, they  were  penned  ;  and  Circe  flung  them  acorns, 
chestnuts,  and  cornel-fruit  to  eat,  such  things  as  swine 
that  wallow  in  the  mire  are  wont  to  eat. 

"  Eurylochus,  meanwhile,  came  to  the  swift  black 
ship  to  bring  me  tidings  of  my  men  and  tell  their  bit- 
ter fate.  Strive  as  he  might,  he  could  not  speak  a 
word,  so  stricken  was  he  to  the  soul  with  great  dis- 
tress ;  his  eyes  were  filled  with  tears,  his  heart  felt 
anguish.  But  when  we  all  in  great  amazement  ques- 
tioned him,  then  he  described  the  loss  of  all  his  men  : 

"  '  We  went,  as  you  commanded,  noble  Odysseus, 
through  the  thicket  and  found  within  the  glades  a 


X.  253-282.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  155 

beautiful  house,  built  of  smooth  stone  upon  command- 
ing ground.  There  somebody  was  tending  a  great 
loom  and  singing  loud,  some  god  or  woman.  The 
others  lifted  up  their  voice  and  called ;  and  suddenly 
coming  forth,  she  opened  the  shining  doors  and  bade 
them  in.  The  rest  all  followed,  heedless  ;  but  I  re- 
mained behind,  suspicious  of  a  snare.  They  vanished, 
one  and  all ;  not  one  appeared  again,  though  long  I 
sat  and  watched.' 

"  So  he  spoke  ;  I  slung  my  silver-studded  sword 
about  my  shoulders,  —  large  it  was  and  made  of 
bronze,  —  and  my  bow  with  it,  and  bade  him  lead  me 
back  the  selfsame  way.  But  he,  clasping  my  knees 
with  both  his  hands,  entreated  me,  and  sorrowfully 
said  in  winged  words  : 

"  i  O  heaven-descended  man,  bring  me  not  there 
against  my  will,  but  leave  me  here  ;  for  well  I  know 
you  never  will  return,  nor  will  you  bring  another  of 
your  comrades.  Rather,  with  these  now  here,  let  us 
speed  on  ;  for  we  might  even  yet  escape  the  evil  day.' 

"  So  he  spoke,  and  answering  him  said  I  :  '  Eurylo- 
chus,  remain  then  here  yourself,  eating  and  drinking 
by  the  black  hollow  ship  ;  but  I  will  go,  for  strong 
necessity  is  laid  on  me.' 

"  Saying  this,  I  passed  up  from  the  ship  and  from 
the  sea.  But  when,  in  walking  up  the  solemn  glades, 
I  was  about  to  reach  the  great  house  of  the  sorceress 
Circe,  there  I  was  met,  as  I  approached  the  house,  by 
Hermes  of  the  golden  wand,  in  likeness  of  a  youth,  the 
first  down  on  his  lip,  —  a  time  of  life  most  winning. 
He  held  my  hand  and  spoke,  and  thus  addressed  me  : 

"  i  Where  are  you  going,  hapless  man,  along  the 
hills  alone,  ignorant  of  the  land  ?  Your  comrades 
yonder,  at  the  house  of  Circe,  are  penned  like  swine 


156  THE    ODYSSEY.  [X.  283-316. 

and  kept  in  fast-closed  sties.  You  come  to  free  them  ? 
Nay,  I  am  sure  you  will  return  no  more,  but  there, 
like  all  the  rest,  you  too  will  stay.  Still,  I  can  keep 
you  clear  of  harm  and  give  you  safety.  Here,  take 
this  potent  herb  and  go  to  Circe's  house  ;  this  shall 
protect  your  life  against  the  evil  day.  And  I  will  tell 
you  all  the  magic  arts  of  Circe  :  she  will  prepare 
for  you  a  potion  and  cast  drugs  into  your  food ;  but 
even  so,  she  cannot  charm  you,  because  the  potent 
herb  which  I  shall  give  will  not  permit  it.  And  let 
me  tell  you  more :  when  Circe  turns  against  you  her 
long  wand,  then  draw  the  sharp  sword  from  your 
thigh  and  spring  upon  Circe  as  if  you  meant  to  slay 
her ;  she  then  will  cower  and  bid  you  to  her  bed. 
And  do  not  you  refuse  the  goddess'  bed,  that  so  she 
may  release  your  men  and  care  for  you.  But  bid  her 
swear  the  blessed  ones'  great  oath  that  she  is  not 
meaning  now  to  plot  you  a  new  woe,  nor  when  she 
has  you  stripped  to  leave  you  feeble  and  unmanned.' 

"  As  he  thus  spoke,  the  Speedy-comer  gave  the 
herb,  drawing  it  from  the  ground,  and  pointed  out  its 
nature.  Black  at  the  root  it  is,  like  milk  its  blossom, 
and  the  gods  call  it  moly.  Hard  is  it  for  a  mortal 
man  to  dig ;  with  gods  all  things  may  be. 

"  Hermes  departed  now  to  high  Olympus,  along  the 
woody  island.  I  made  my  way  to  Circe's  house,  and 
as  I  went  my  heart  grew  very  dark.  But  I  stood  at 
the  gate  of  the  fair-haired  goddess,  stood  there  and 
called,  and  the  goddess  heard  my  voice.  Suddenly 
coming  forth,  she  opened  the  shining  doors  and  bade 
me  in  ;  I  followed  her  with  aching  heart.  She  led  me 
in  and  placed  me  on  a  silver-studded  chair,  beautiful, 
richly  wrought,  —  upon  its  lower  part  there  was  a  rest 
for  feet,  —  and  she  prepared  a  potion  in  a  golden  cup, 


X.  317-347.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  157 

for  me  to  drink,  but  put  therein  a  drug,  with  wicked 
purpose  in  her  heart.  Now  after  she  had  given  the 
drink  and  I  had  drunk  it  off,  and  yet  it  had  not 
charmed  me,  smiting  me  with  her  wand,  she  spoke 
these  words  and  cried  :  '  Off  to  the  sty,  and  lie  there 
with  your  fellows  ! ' 

u  She  spoke  ;  I  drew  the  sharp  blade  from  my  thigh 
and  sprang  upon  Circe  as  if  I  meant  to  slay  her. 
With  a  loud  cry,  she  cowered  and  clasped  my  knees, 
and  sorrowfully  said  in  winged  words : 

" '  Who  are  you  ?  Of  what  people  ?  Where  is 
your  town  and  kindred  ?  I  marvel  much  that  drink- 
ing of  these  drugs  you  were  not  charmed.  None,  no 
man  else,  ever  withstood  these  drugs  who  tasted  them, 
so  soon  as  they  had  passed  the  barrier  of  his  teeth ; 
but  in  your  breast  there  is  a  mind  which  cannot  be 
beguiled.  Surely  you  are  adventurous  Odysseus,  who 
the  god  of  the  golden  wand,  the  Speedy-comer,  always 
declared  would  come  upon  his  way  from  Troy,  — he 
and  his  swift  black  ship.  Nay,  then,  put  up  your 
blade  within  its  sheath,  and  let  us  now  approach  our 
bed,  that  there  we  two  may  join  in  love  and  learn  to 
trust  each  other/ 

"  So  she  spoke,  and  answering  her  said  I :  '  Circe, 
why  ask  me  to  be  gentle  toward  you  when  you  have 
turned  my  comrades  into  swine  within  your  halls,  and 
here  detain  me  and  with  treacherous  purpose  invite 
me  to  your  chamber  and  to  approach  your  bed,  that 
you,  when  I  am  stripped,  may  leave  me  feeble  and  un- 
manned ?  But  I  will  never  willingly  approach  your 
bed  till  you  consent,  goddess,  to  swear  a  solemn  oath 
that  you  are  not  meaning  now  to  plot  me  a  new  woe.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  she  then  took  the  oath  which  I 
required.  So  after  she  had  sworn  and  ended  all  that 
oath,  then  I  approached  the  beauteous  bed  of  Circe. 


158  THE   ODYSSEY.  [X.  348-381. 

"  Meanwhile  attendants  plied  their  work  about  the 
halls,  —  four  maids,  who  were  the  serving-women  of 
the  palace.  They  are  the  children  of  the  springs  and 
groves  and  of  the  sacred  streams  that  run  into  the 
sea.  One  threw  upon  the  chairs  beautiful  cloths  ; 
purple  she  spread  above,  linen  below.  The  next 
placed  silver  tables  by  the  chairs  and  set  forth  golden 
baskets.  A  third  stirred  in  a  bowl  the  cheering  wine, 
—  sweet  wine  in  silver  —  and  filled  the  golden  cups. 
A  fourth  brought  water  and  kindled  a  large  fire  under 
a  great  kettle,  and  let  the  water  warm.  Then  when 
the  water  in  the  glittering  copper  boiled,  she  seated 
me  in  the  bath  and  bathed  me  from  the  kettle  about 
the  head  and  shoulders,  tempering  the  water  well,  till 
from  my  joints  she  drew  the  sore  fatigue.  And  after 
she  had  bathed  me  and  anointed  me  with  oil  and  nut 
upon  me  a  goodly  coat  and  tunic,  she  led  me  in  and 
placed  me  on  a  silver-studded  chair,  beautiful,  richly 
wrought,  —  upon  its  lower  part  there  was  a  rest  for 
feet,  —  and  water  for  the  hands  a  servant  brought  me 
in  a  beautiful  pitcher  made  of  gold,  and  poured  it 
out  over  a  silver  basin  for  my  washing,  and  spread  a 
polished  table  by  my  side.  Then  the  grave  house- 
keeper brought  bread  and  placed  before  me,  setting 
out  food  of  many  a  kind,  freely  giving  of  her  store, 
and  bade  me  eat.  But  that  pleased  not  my  heart ;  I 
sat  with  other  thoughts  ;  my  heart  foreboded  evil. 

"  When  Circe  marked  me  sitting  thus,  not  laying 
hands  upon  my  food  but  cherishing  sore  sorrow,  ap- 
proaching me  she  said  in  winged  words :  '  Why  do 
you  sit,  Odysseus,  thus,  like  one  struck  dumb,  gnawing 
your  heart,  and  touch  no  food  nor  drink?  Do  you 
suspect  some  further  guile  ?  You  have  no  cause  for 
fear,  for  even  now  I  swore  to  you  a  solemn  oath.' 


X  382-415.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  159 

M  So  she  spoke,  and  answering  her  said  1 :  '  Ah, 
Ciree.  what  upright  man  could  bring  himself  to  U 
of  food  or  drink  before  he  had  released  his  friends 
and  seen  them  with  his  eyes  ?  But  if  you  in  sincerity 
will  bid  me  drink  and  eat,  then  set  them  free  ;  that  I 
with  my  own  eyes  may  see  my  trust}*  comrades." 

M  So  I  spoke,  and  from  the  hall  went  Circe,  wand 
in  hand.  She  opened  the  sty  doors,  and  forth  she 
drove  what  seemed  like  nine-year  swine.  A  while 
they  stood  before  her,  and,  passing  along  the  line, 
Circe  anointed  each  one  with  a  counter-charm.  So 
from  their  members  fell  the  hair  which  at  the  first  the 
accursed  drug  which  potent  Circe  gave  had  made  to 
grow  :  and  once  more  they  were  men,  men  younger 
than  before,  much  fairer  too  and  taller  to  behold. 
They  knew  me.  and  each  grasped  my  hand,  and  from 
them  all  passionate  sobs  burst  forth,  and  all  the  house 
gave  a  sad  echo.  The  goddess  pitied  us,  even  she, 
and  standing  bv  mv  side  the  heavenlv  goddess  said : 

*•  •  High-born  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus,  go 
now  to  your  swift  ship  and  to  the  shore,  and  first  of 
all  draw  up  your  ship  upon  the  land,  and  store  within 
the  caves  your  goods  and  all  your  gear,  and  then  come 
back  yourself  and  bring  your  trusty  comrades.' 

"So  she  spoke,  and  my  high  heart  assented.  I 
went  to  the  swift  ship  and  to  the  shore,  and  found  by 
the  swift  ship  my  trusty  comrades  in  bitter  lamentation, 
letting  the  big  tears  fall.  As  the  stalled  calves  skip 
round  a  drove  of  cows  returning  to  the  barn-vard 
when  satisfied  with  grazing  ;  with  one  accord  they  all 
bound  forth,  the  folds  no  longer  hold  them,  but  with 
continual  bleat  they  frisk  about  their  mothers ;  so  did 

■ 

these  men.  when  they  caught  sight  of  me,  press  weep- 
ing round.     To  them  it  seemed  as  if  they  had  already 


160  THE    ODYSSEY.  [X.  416-448. 

reached  their  land,  their  very  town  of  rugged  Ithaca 
where  they  were  bred  and  born  ;  and  through  their 
sobs  they  said  in  winged  words : 

"  '  Now  you  have  come,  O  heaven-descended  man, 
we  are  as  glad  as  if  we  were  approaching  Ithaca,  our 
native  land.  But  tell  about  the  loss  of  all  our  other 
comrades.' 

"  So  they  spoke  ;  I  in  soft  words  made  answer : 
4  Let  us  now  first  of  all  draw  up  our  ship  upon  the 
land  and  store  within  the  caves  our  goods  and  all  our 
gear  ;  then  hasten  all  of  you  to  follow  me,  and  see 
your  comrades  in  the  magic  house  of  Circe  drinking 
and  eating,  holding  constant  cheer.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  my  words  they  quickly  heeded. 
Eurylochus  alone  tried  to  hold  back  my  comrades, 
and  speaking  in  winged  words  he  said :  '  Poor  fools, 
where  are  we  going  ?  "Why  are  you  so  in  love  with 
miseiy  that  you  will  go  to  Circe's  hall  and  let  her  turn 
us  all  to  swine  and  wolves  and  lions,  that  we  may  then 
keep  watch  at  her  great  house,  perforce  ?  Such  deeds 
the  Cyclops  did  when  to  his  lair  our  comrades  came, 
and  with  them  went  this  reckless  man,  Odysseus ; 
for  through  his  folly  those  men  also  perished.' 

"  As  he  thus  spoke,  I  hesitated  in  my  heart  whether 
to  draw  my  keen-edged  blade  from  my  stout  thigh 
and  by  a  blow  bring  down  his  head  into  the  dust,  near 
as  he  was  by  tie  of  marriage ;  but  with  soft  words  my 
comrades  stayed  me,  each  in  his  separate  wise : 

" ;  High-born  Odysseus,  we  will  leave  him,  if  you 
please,  here  by  the  ship  to  guard  the  ship  ;  but  lead 
us  to  the  magic  house  of  Circe.' 

"  Saying  this,  they  passed  up  from  the  ship  and 
from  the  sea.  Yet  did  Eurylochus  not  tarry  by  the 
hollow  ship ;  he  followed,  for  he  feared  my  stern  re- 
buke. 


X.  449-482.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  161 

"  But  in  the  mean  while  to  my  other  comrades  at 
the  palace  Circe  had  given  a  pleasant  bath,  anointed 
them  with  oil,  and  put  upon  them  fleecy  coats  and  tu- 
nics ;  merrily  feasting  in  her  halls  we  found  them  all. 
When  the  men  saw  and  recognized  each  other,  they 
wept  aloud  and  the  house  rang  around  ;  and  standing 
by  my  side  the  heavenly  goddess  said  : 

" '  High-born  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus,  let 
not  this  swelling  grief  rise  farther  now.  I  myself 
know  what  hardships  you  have  borne  upon  the  swarm- 
ing sea  and  how  fierce  men  harassed  you  on  the  land. 
Come,  then,  eat  food,  drink  wine,  until  you  find  once 
more  that  spirit  in  the  breast  which  once  was  yours 
when  you  first  left  your  native  land  of  rugged  Ithaca. 
Now,  worn  and  spiritless,  your  thoughts  still  dwell 
upon  your  weary  wandering.  This  many  a  day  your 
heart  has  not  been  glad,  for  sorely  have  you  suffered.' 

"  So  she  spoke,  and  our  high  hearts  assented.  Here, 
then,  day  after  day,  for  a  full  year,  we  sat  and  feasted 
on  abundant  meat  and  pleasant  wine.  But  when  the 
year  was  gone  and  the  round  of  the  seasons  rolled, 
as  the  months  waned  and  the  long  days  were  done, 
then  calling  me  aside  my  trusty  comrades  said  : 

"  4  Ah,  sir,  consider  now  your  native  land,  if  you  are 
destined  ever  to  be  saved  and  reach  your  stately  house 
and  native  land.' 

"  So  they  spoke,  and  my  high  heart  assented.  Yet 
all  throughout  that  day  till  setting  sun  we  sat  and 
feasted  on  abundant  meat  and  pleasant  wine  ;  and  when 
the  sun  went  down  and  darkness  came,  my  men  lay 
down  to  sleep  throughout  the  dusky  halls.  But  I,  on 
coming  to  the  beauteous  bed  of  Circe,  made  supplica- 
tion to  her  by  her  knees,  and  to  my  voice  the  goddess 
hearkened  ;  and  speaking  in  winged  words,  I  said : 


162  THE   ODYSSEY.  [X.  483-515. 

"  4  Circe,  fulfill  the  promise  made  to  send  me  Lome  ; 
for  now  my  spirit  stirs,  with  that  of  all  my  men,  who 
vex  my  heart  with  their  complaints  when  you  are  gone 
away.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  straight  the  heavenly  goddess  an- 
swered :  '  High-born  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus, 
stay  no  longer  at  my  home  against  your  will.  But  you 
must  first  perform  a  different  journey,  and  go  to  the 
halls  of  Hades  and  of  dread  Persephone,  there  to  con- 
sult the  spirit  of  Teiresias  of  Thebes-,  —  the  prophet 
blind,  whose  mind  is  steadfast  still.  To  him,  though 
dead,  Persephone  has  granted  reason,  to  him  alone 
sound  understanding  ;  the  rest  are  flitting  shadows.' 

"  As  she  thus  spoke,  my  very  soul  was  crushed 
within  me,  and  sitting  on  the  bed  I  fell  to  weeping  ; 
my  heart  no  longer  cared  to  live  and  see  the  sunshine. 
But  when  of  weeping  and  of  writhing  I  had  had  my 
fill,  then  thus  I  answered  her  and  said  :  4  But,  Circe, 
who  will  be  my  pilot  on  this  journey  ?  None  by  black 
ship  has  ever  reached  the  land  of  Hades.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  straight  the  heavenly  goddess  an- 
swered :  *  High-born  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus, 
let  not  the  lack  of  pilot  for  your  ship  disturb  you,  but 
set  the  mast,  spread  the  white  sail  aloft,  and  sit  you 
down  ;  the  breath  of  Boreas  shall  bear  her  onward. 
When  you  have  crossed  by  ship  the  Ocean-stream  to 
where  the  shore  is  rough  and  the  grove  of  Persephone 
stands,  —  tall  poplars  and  seed-shedding  willows,  — 
there  beach  your  ship  by  the  deep  eddies  of  the  Ocean- 
stream,  but  go  yourself  to  the  mouldering  house  of 
Hades.  There  is  a  spot  where  into  Acheron  run 
Pyriphlegethon  and  Cocytus,  a  stream  which  is  an  off- 
shoot of  the  waters  of  the  Styx  ;  a  rock  here  forms 
the  meeting-point  of  the  two  roaring  rivers.     To  this 


X.  516-548.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  163 

spot  then,  hero,  draw  nigh,  even  as  I  bid ;  and  dig  a 
pit,  about  a  cubit  either  way,  and  round  its  edges  pour 
an  offering  to  all  the  dead,  —  first  honey-mixture, 
next  sweet  wine,  and  thirdly  water,  and  over  all  strew 
the  white  barley-meal.  Make  many  supplications  also 
to  the  streiigthless  dead,  vowing  when  you  return  to 
Ithaca  to  take  the  barren  cow  that  is  your  best  and 
offer  it  in  your  hall,  heaping  the  pyre  with  treasure ; 
and  to  Teiresias  separately  to  sacrifice  a  sheep,  for  him 
alone,  one  wholly  black,  the  very  choicest  of  your 
flock.  So  when  with  vows  you  have  implored  the  il- 
lustrious peoples  of  the  dead,  offer  a  ram  and  a  black 
ewe,  bending  their  heads  toward  Erebus,  but  turn 
yourself  away,  facing  the  river's  stream ;  to  you  shall 
gather  many  spirits  of  those  now  dead  and  gone. 
Then  forthwith  call  your  men,  and  bid  them  take  the 
sheep  now  lying  there  slain  by  the  ruthless  sword,  and 
flay  and  burn  them,  and  call  upon  the  gods,  —  on 
powerful  Hades  and  on  dread  Persephone,  —  while 
you  yourself,  drawing  your  sharp  sword  from  your 
thigh,  sit  still  and  do  not  let  the  streiigthless  dead 
approach  the  blood  till  you  have  made  inquiry  of 
Teiresias.  Thither  the  seer  will  quickly  come,  O  chief 
of  men,  and  he  will  tell  your  course,  the  stages  of  your 
journey,  and  of  your  homeward  way,  how  you  may 
pass  along  the  swarming  sea.' 

"  Even  as  she  spoke,  the  gold-throned  morning 
came.  On  me  she  put  a  coat  and  tunic  for  my  rai- 
ment ;  and  the  nymph  dressed  herself  in  a  long  silvery 
robe,  fine  spun  and  graceful ;  she  bound  a  beautiful 
golden  girdle  round  her  waist,  and  put  a  veil  upon  her 
head.  Then  through  the  house  I  passed  and  roused 
my  men  with  cheering  words,  standing  by  each  in  turn  : 

" l  Sleep  no  more  now,  nor  drowse  in  pleasant  slum- 


164  THE   ODYSSEY.  [X.  549-574. 

ber,  but  let  us  go,  for  potent  Circe  has  at  last  made 
known  to  me  the  way.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  their  high  hearts  assented.  Yet 
even  from  there  I  did  not  bring  away  my  men  in 
safety.  There  was  a  certain  Elpenor,  the  youngest  of 
them  all,  a  man  not  very  stanch  in  fight  nor  sound  of 
understanding,  who,  parted  from  his  mates,  lay  down  to 
sleep  upon  the  magic  house  of  Circe,  seeking  for  cool- 
ness when  overcome  with  wine.  As  his  companions 
stirred,  hearing  the  noise  and  tumult,  he  suddenly 
sprang  up  and  quite  forgot  how  to  come  down  again 
by  the  long  ladder,  but  he  fell  headlong  from  the  roof  ; 
his  neck  was  broken  in  its  socket,  and  his  soul  went 
down  to  the  house  of  Hades. 

"  When  my  men  mustered  there,  I  said  to  them : 
'  You  think,  perhaps,  that  you  are  going  home  to  your 
own  native  land ;  but  Circe  has  marked  out  for  us  a 
different  journey,  even  to  the  halls  of  Hades  and  of 
dread  Persephone,  there  to  consult  the  spirit  of  Teire- 
sias  of  Thebes.' 

"As  I  thus  spoke,  their  very  souls  were  crushed 
within  them,  and  sitting  down  where  each  one  was 
they  moaned  and  tore  their  hair  ;  but  no  good  came  to 
them  from  their  lamenting. 

"  Now  while  we  walked  to  the  swift  ship  and  to  the 
shore,  in  sadness,  letting  the  big  tears  fall,  Circe  went 
on  before,  and  there  by  the  black  ship  tied  a  black 
ewe  and  ram,  passing  us  lightly  by.  When  a  god  does 
not  will,  what  man  can  spy  him  moving  to  and  fro  ?  " 


XI. 

THE   LAND   OF  THE   DEAD. 

"  Now  when  we  came  down  to  the  ship  and  to  the 
sea,  we  in  the  first  place  launched  our  ship  into  the 
sacred  sea,  put  mast  and  sail  in  the  black  ship,  then 
took  the  sheep  and  drove  them  in,  and  we  ourselves 
embarked  in  sadness,  letting  the  big  tears  fall.  And 
for  our  aid  behind  our  dark-bowed  ship  came  a  fair 
wind  to  fill  our  sail,  a  welcome  comrade,  sent  us  by 
fair  -  haired  Circe,  the  mighty  goddess,  human  of 
speech.  So  when  we  had  done  our  work  at  the  sev- 
eral ropes  about  the  ship  we  sat  us  down,  while  wind 
and  helmsman  kept  her  steady ;  and  all  day  long  the 
sail  of  the  running  ship  was  stretched.  Then  the  sun 
sank,  and  all  the  ways  grew  dark. 

"  And  now  she  reached  earth's  limits,  the  deep 
stream  of  the  Ocean,  where  the  Cimmerian  people's 
land  and  city  lie,  wrapt  in  a  fog  and  cloud.  Never 
on  them  does  the  shining  sun  look  down  with  his 
beams,  as  he  goes  up  the  starry  sky  or  as  again  toward 
earth  he  turns  back  from  the  sky,  but  deadly  night 
is  spread  abroad  over  these  hapless  men.  On  coming 
here,  we  beached  our  ship  and  set  the  sheep  ashore, 
then  walked  along  the  Ocean-stream  until  we  reached 
the  spot  foretold  by  Circe. 

"  Here  Perimedes  and  Eurylochus  held  fast  the  vic- 
tims, while  drawing  my  sharp  blade  from  my  thigh,  I 
dug  a  pit,  about  a  cubit  either  way,  and  round  its 


166  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XL  26-59. 

edges  poured  an  offering  to  all  the  dead,  —  first  honey- 
mixture,  next  sweet  wine,  and  thirdly  water,  and  over 
all  I  strewed  white  barley-meal ;  and  I  made  many 
supplications  to  the  strengthless  dead,  vowing  when 
I  returned  to  Ithaca  to  take  the  barren  cow  that  was 
my  best  and  offer  it  in  my  hall,  heaping  the  pyre  with 
treasure  ;  and  to  Teiresias  separately  to  sacrifice  a 
sheep,  for  him  alone,  one  wholly  black,  the  choicest  of 
my  flock.  So  when  with  prayers  and  vows  I  had  im- 
plored the  peoples  of  the  dead,  I  took  the  sheep  and 
cut  their  throats  over  the  pit,  and  forth  the  dark  blood 
ran.  Then  gathered  there  spirits  from  out  of  Erebus 
of  those  now  dead  and  gone,  —  brides,  and  unwedded 
youths,  and  worn  old  men,  delicate  maids  with  hearts 
but  new  to  sorrow,  and  many  pierced  with  brazen 
spears,  men  slain  in  fight,  wearing  their  blood-stained 
armor.  In  crowds  around  the  pit  they  flocked  from 
eveiy  side,  with  awful  wail.  Pale  terror  seized  me. 
Nevertheless,  inspiriting  my  men,  I  bade  them  take 
the  sheep  now  lying  there  slain  by  the  ruthless  sword, 
and  flay  and  burn  them,  and  call  upon  the  gods,  —  on 
powerful  Hades  and  on  dread  Persephone,  —  while  I 
myself,  drawing  my  sharp  sword  from  my  thigh,  sat 
still  and  did  not  let  the  strengthless  dead  approach 
the  blood  till  I  had  made  inquiry  of  Teiresias. 

"  First  came  the  spirit  of  my  man,  Elpenor.  He 
had  not  yet  been  buried  under  the  broad  earth  ;  for 
we  left  his  body  at  the  hall  of  Circe,  unwept,  unbur- 
ied,  since  other  tasks  were  urgent.  I  wept  to  see  him 
and  pitied  him  from  my  heart,  and  speaking  in  winged 
words  I  said  : 

" '  Elpenor,  how  came  you  in  this  murky  gloom  ? 
Faster  you  came  on  foot  than  I  in  my  black  ship.' 

"  So    I    spoke,    and   with   a   groan    he   answered : 


XL  60-91.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  167 

4  High-born  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus,  Heaven's 
cruel  doom  destroyed  me,  and  excess  of  wine.  After 
I  went  to  sleep  on  Circe's  house,  I  did  not  notice 
how  to  go  down  again  by  the  long  ladder,  but  I  fell 
headlong  from  the  roof  ;  my  neck  was  broken  in  its 
socket,  and  my  soul  came  down  to  the  house  of  Hades. 
Now  I  entreat  you  by  those  left  behind,  not  present 
here,  by  your  wife,  and  by  the  father  who  cared  for 
you  when  little,  and  by  Telemachus  whom  you  left 
at  home  alone,  —  for  I  know,  as  you  go  hence  out  of 
the  house  of  Hades,  you  will  touch  with  your  stanch 
ship  the  island  of  Aeaea,  —  there  then,  my  master,  I 
charge  you,  think  of  me.  Do  not,  in  going,  leave  me 
behind,  unwept,  unburied,  deserting  me,  lest  I  be- 
come a  cause  of  anger  to  the  gods  against  you ;  but 
burn  me  in  the  armor  that  was  mine,  and  on  the  shore 
of  the  foaming  sea  erect  the  mound  of  an  unhappy 
man,  that  future  times  may  know.  Do  this  for  me, 
and  fix  upon  my  grave  the  oar  with  which  in  life  I 
rowed  among  my  comrades.' 

"  So  he  spoke,  and  answering  him  said  I :  '  Un- 
happy man,  this  will  I  carry  out  and  do  for  you.' 

"  In  such  sad  words  talking  with  one  another,  there 
we  sat,  —  I  on  the  one  side,  holding  my  blade  over 
the  blood,  while  the  spectre  of  my  comrade,  on  the 
other,  told  of  his  many  woes. 

"  Now  came  the  spirit  of  my  dead  mother,  Anticleia, 
daughter  of  brave  Autolycus,  whom  I  had  left  alive 
on  setting  forth  for  sacred  Ilios.  I  wept  to  see  her 
and  pitied  her  from  my  heart ;  but  even  so,  I  did  not 
let  her  —  deeply  though  it  grieved  me  —  approach 
the  blood  till  I  had  made  inquiry  of  Teiresias. 

"  Now  came  the  spirit  of  Teiresias  of  Thebes,  hold- 
ing his  golden  sceptre.      He  knew  me,  and  said  to 


168  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XI.  92-123. 

me  :  '  High-born  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus,  why 
now,  unhappy  man,  leaving  the  sunshine,  have  you 
come  here  to  see  the  dead  and  this  forbidding  place  ? 
Nay,  draw  back  from  the  pit  and  turn  your  sharp 
blade  from  the  blood,  that  I  may  drink  and  speak 
what  will  not  fail.' 

"  So  he  spoke,  and  drawing  back  I  thrust  my  silver- 
studded  sword  into  its  sheath.  And  after  he  had 
drunk  of  the  dark  blood,  then  thus  the  blameless  seer 
addressed  me  : 

"  '  You  are  looking  for  a  joyous  journey  home,  glo- 
rious Odysseus,  but  a  god  will  make  it  hard  ;  for  I  do 
not  think  you  will  elude  the  Land-shaker,  who  bears 
a  grudge  against  you  in  his  heart,  angry  because  you 
blinded  his  dear  son.  Yet  even  so,  by  meeting  hard- 
ship you  may  still  reach  home,  if  you  will  curb  the 
passions  of  yourself  and  crew  when  once  you  bring 
your  stanch  ship  to  the  Thrinacian  island,  safe  from 
the  dark  blue  sea,  and  find  the  pasturing  kine  and 
sturdy  sheep  of  the  Sun,  who  all  things  oversees,  all 
overhears.  If  you  leave  these  unharmed  and  heed 
your  homeward  way,  you  still  may  come  to  Ithaca, 
though  you  shall  meet  with  hardship.  But  if  you 
harm  them,  then  I  predict  the  loss  of  ship  and  crew  ; 
and  even  if  you  yourself  escape,  late  shall  you  come, 
in  evil  plight,  with  loss  of  all  your  crew,  on  the  vessel 
of  a  stranger.  At  home  you  shall  find  trouble,  — 
bold  men  devouring  your  living,  wooing  your  match- 
less wife,  and  offering  bridal  gifts.  Nevertheless,  on 
your  return,  you  surely  shall  avenge  their  crimes. 
But  after  you  have  slain  the  suitors  in  your  halls, 
whether  by  stratagem  or  by  the  sharp  sword  boldly, 
then  journey  on,  bearing  a  shapely  oar,  until  you  reach 
the  men  who  know  no  sea  and  do  not  eat  food  mixed 


XI.  124-156.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  169 

with  salt.  These  therefore  have  no  knowledge  of  the 
red-cheeked  ships,  nor  of  the  shapely  oars  which  are 
the  wings  of  ships.  And  I  will  give  a  sign  easy  to  be 
observed,  which  shall  not  fail  you  :  when  another  trav- 
eler, meeting  you,  shall  say  you  have  a  winnowing  fan 
on  your  white  shoulder,  there  fix  in  the  ground  your 
shapely  oar,  and  make  fit  offerings  to  lord  Poseidon  — 
a  ram,  a  bull,  and  the  sow's  mate,  a  boar,  —  and  turn- 
ing homeward  offer  sacred  hecatombs  to  the  immortal 
gods  who  hold  the  open  sky,  all  in  the  order  due. 
Upon  yourself  death  from  the  sea  shall  very  gently 
come  and  cut  you  off  bowed  down  with  hale  old  age. 
Round  you  shall  be  a  prosperous  people.  I  speak 
what  shall  not  fail.' 

"  So  he  spoke,  and  answering  him  said  I :  '  Teire- 
sias,  these  are  the  threads  of  destiny  the  gods  them- 
selves have  spun.  Nevertheless,  declare  me  this,  and 
plainly  tell :  I  see  the  spirit  of  my  dead  mother  here ; 
silent  she  sits  beside  the  blood  and  has  not,  although 
I  am  her  son,  deigned  to  look  in  my  face  or  speak  to 
me.  Tell  me,  my  master,  how  may  she  know  that  it 
is  I?' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  straightway  answering  me  said 
he  :  '  A  simple  saying  I  will  tell  and  fix  it  in  your 
mind  :  whomever  among  those  dead  and  gone  you  let 
approach  the  blood,  he  shall  declare  the  truth.  But 
whomsoever  you  refuse,  he  shall  go  back  again.' 

"  So  saying,  into  the  house  of  Hades  passed  the 
spirit  of  the  great  Teiresias,  after  telling  heaven's  de- 
crees ;  but  I  still  held  my  place  until  my  mother  came 
and  drank  of  the  dark  blood.  She  knew  me  instantly, 
and  sorrowfully  said  in  winged  words : 

" '  My  child,  how  came  you  in  this  murky  gloom, 
while  still  alive  ?     Awful  to  the  living  are  these  sights. 


170  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XL  157-190. 

Great  rivers  are  between,  and  fearful  floods,  —  might- 
iest of  all  the  Ocean-stream,  not  to  be  crossed  on  foot, 
but  only  on  a  strong-built  ship.  Are  you  but  now 
come  here,  upon  your  way  from  Troy,  wandering  a 
long  time  with  your  ship  and  crew  ?  Have  you  not 
been  in  Ithaca,  nor  seen  your  wife  at  home  ?  ' 

"  So  she  spoke,  and  answering  her  said  I :  '  My  mo- 
ther, need  brought  me  to  the  house  of  Hades,  here  to 
consult  the  spirit  of  Teiresias  of  Thebes.  I  have  not 
yet  been  near  Achaea  nor  once  set  foot  upon  my  land, 
but  have  been  always  wandering  and  meeting  sorrow 
since  the  first  day  I  followed  royal  Agamemnon  to 
Ilios,  famed  for  horses,  to  fight  the  Trojans  there. 
But  now  declare  me  this  and  plainly  tell :  what  doom 
of  death  that  lays  men  low  o'erwhelmed  you  ?  Some  . 
long  disease  ?  Or  did  the  huntress  Artemis  attack 
and  slay  you  with  her  gentle  arrows  ?  And  tell  me 
of  my  father  and  the  son  I  left ;  still  in  their  keeping 
are  my  honors  ?  Or  does  at  last  an  alien  hold  them, 
while  people  say  that  I  shall  come  no  more  ?  Tell 
me,  moreover,  of  my  wedded  wife,  her  purposes  and 
thoughts.  Is  she  abiding  by  her  child  and  keeping  all 
in  safety  ?  Or  was  she  finally  married  by  some  chief 
of  the  Achaeans  ?  ' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  straight  my  honored  mother  an- 
swered :  '  Indeed  she  stays  with  patient  heart  within 
your  hall,  and  wearily  the  nights  and  days  are  wasted 
with  her  tears.  Nobody  yet  holds  your  fair  honors  ; 
in  peace  Telemachus  farms  your  estate,  and  sits  at 
equal  feasts  where  it  befits  the  lawgiver  to  be  a  guest ; 
for  all  give  him  a  welcome.  Your  father  stays  among 
the  fields,  and  comes  to  the  town  no  more.  Bed  has 
he  none,  bedstead,  nor  robes,  nor  bright-hued  rugs  ; 
but  through  the  winter  he  sleeps  in  the  house  where 


XI.  191-224.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  171 

servants  sleep,  in  the  dust  beside  the  fire,  and  wears 
upon  his  body  sorry  clothes.  Then  when  the  sum- 
mer comes  and  fruitful  autumn,  wherever  he  may  be 
about  his  slope  of  vineyard-ground  a  bed  is  piled  of 
leaves  fallen  on  the  earth.  There  lies  he  in  distress, 
woe  waxing  strong  within,  longing  for  your  return  ; 
and  hard  old  age  comes  on.  Even  so  I  also  died  and 
met  my  doom  :  not  that  at  home  the  sure-eyed  hun- 
tress attacked  and  slew  me  with  her  gentle  arrows ; 
nor  did  a  sickness  come,  which  oftentimes  by  sad  de- 
cay steals  from  the  limbs  the  life  ;  but  longing  for  you 
—  your  wise  ways,  glorious  Odysseus,  and  your  ten- 
derness, —  took  joyous  life  away.' 

"  As  she  thus  spoke,  I  yearned,  though  my  mind 
hesitated,  to  clasp  the  spirit  of  my  mother,  even  though 
dead.  Three  times  the  impulse  came  ;  my  heart  urged 
me  to  clasp  her.  Three  times  out  of  my  arms  like  a 
shadow  or  a  dream  she  flitted,  and  the  sharp  pain 
about  my  heart  grew  only  more;  and  speaking  in 
winged  words,  I  said  : 

"  '  My  mother,  why  not  stay  for  me  who  long  to  clasp 
you,  so  that  in  the  very  house  of  Hades,  throwing  our 
arms  round  one  another,  we  two  may  take  our  fill  of 
piercing  grief  ?  Or  is  it  a  phantom  high  Persephone 
has  sent,  to  make  me  weep  and  sorrow  more  ? ' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  straight  my  honored  mother  an- 
swered :  l  Ah,  my  own  child,  beyond  all  men  ill-fated  ! 
In  no  wise  is  Persephone,  daughter  of  Zeus,  beguiling 
you,  but  this  is  the  way  with  mortals  when  they  die  : 
the  sinews  then  no  longer  hold  the  flesh  and  bones  to- 
gether ;  for  these  the  strong  force  of  the  blazing  fire 
destroys,  when  once  the  life  leaves  the  white  bones, 
and  like  a  dream  the  spirit  flies  away.  Nay  now, 
press  quickly  on  into  the  light,  and  of  all  this  take 
heed,  to  tell  your  wife  hereafter.' 


172  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XL  225-259. 

"  So  we  held  converse  there ;  but  now  the  women 
came  —  for  high  Persephone  had  sent  them,  —  who 
were  great  men's  wives  and  daughters.  Round  the 
dark  blood  in  throngs  they  gathered,  and  I  consid- 
ered how  to  question  each.  Then  to  my  mind  this 
seemed  the  wisest  way :  I  drew  my  keen-edged  blade 
from  my  stout  thigh  and  did  not  let  them  all  at  once 
drink  the  dark  blood,  but  one  by  one  they  came,  and 
each  declared  her  lineage,  and  I  questioned  all. 

"  There  I  saw  Tvjo  first,  of  noble  ancestry,  who 
told  of  being  sprung  from  gentle  Salmoneus ;  told 
how  she  was  the  wife  of  Cretheus,  son  of  Aeolus. 
She  loved  a  river-god,  divine  Enipeus,  who  flows  the 
fairest  of  all  streams  on  earth.  So  she  would  walk 
by  the  fair  currents  of  Enipeus,  and  in  his  guise  the 
Laud-shaker,  who  girds  the  land,  lay  with  her  at  the 
outpouring  of  the  eddying  stream.  The  upheaving 
water  compassed  them,  high  as  a  hill  and  arching, 
and  hid  the  god  and  mortal  woman.  He  loosed  the 
maiden's  girdle  and  cast  on  her  a  sleep.  Then  when 
the  god  had  done  the  deeds  of  love,  he  held  her  hand 
and  spoke  and  thus  addressed  her : 

"  4  Be  happy,  lady,  in  my  love  !  In  the  revolving 
year  you  shall  bear  noble  children ;  for  the  embraces 
of  immortals  are  not  barren.  Rear  them  yourself, 
and  cherish  them.  And  now  go  home.  Hold  fast, 
and  speak  it  not :  I  am  Poseidon,  the  shaker  of  the 
earth.' 

"  Saying  this,  he  plunged  into  the  surging  sea.  She 
then,  conceiving,  bore  Pelias  and  Neleus,  who  both 
became  strong  ministers  of  mighty  Zeus.  Pelias 
dwelt  in  the  open  country  of  Iolcus,  rich  in  flocks ; 
the  other  at  sandy  Pylos.  And  sons  to  Cretheus  also 
this  queen  of  women  bore,  —  Aeson,  and  Pheres,  and 
Amythaon  the  charioteer. 


XI.  260-291.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  173 

"  And  after  her  I  saw  Aiitiope,  Asopus'  daughter, 
who  boasted  she  had  been  embraced  by  Zeus  himself. 
And  so  she  bore  two  sons,  Amphion  and  Zethus,  who 
first  laid  the  foundations  of  seven-gated  Thebes,  and 
fortified  it ;  because  unfortified,  they  could  not  dwell 
in  open  Thebes,  for  all  their  power. 

"  And  after  her  I  saw  Alcmene,  wife  of  Amphitryon, 
her  who  bore  dauntless  Hercules,  the  lion-hearted, 
yielding  to  the  embrace  of  mighty  Zeus  ;  and  Megara, 
harsh  Creon's  daughter,  whom  the  tireless  son  of  Am- 
phitryon took  to  wife. 

"  The  mother  of  Oedipus  I  saw,  fair  Epicaste,  who 
did  a  monstrous  deed  through  ignorance  of  heart,  in 
marrying  her  son.  He,  having  slain  his  father,  mar- 
ried her  ;  and  soon  the  gods  made  the  thing  known 
to  men.  In  pain  at  pleasant  Thebes  he  governed  the 
Cadmeians,  through  the  gods'  destroying  purpose  ;  and 
she  went  down  to  Hades,  the  strong  gaoler,  fastening 
a  fatal  noose  to  the  high  rafter,  abandoned  to  her 
grief.  To  him  she  left  the  many  woes  which  the 
Avengers  of  a  mother  bring. 

"  Beautiful  Chloris  too  I  saw,  whom  Neleus  once 
married  for  her  beauty  after  making  countless  gifts, 
the  youngest  daughter  of  that  Amphion,  son  of  Iasus, 
who  once  held  powerful  sway  at  Minyan  Orchomenus. 
She  was  the  queen  of  Pylos,  and  bore  Neleus  famous 
children,  Nestor  and  Chromius  and  Periclymenus  the 
headstrong.  And  beside  these  she  bore  that  stately 
Pero,  the  marvel  of  mankind,  whom  all  her  neighbors 
wooed.  But  to  none  would  Neleus  give  her  save  to 
him  who  should  drive  from  Phylace  the  crook-horned, 
broad-browed  kine  of  haughty  IpJ}^118;^?^  danger- 
ous kine  were  they.  A  blam  ele  ssseer'aTone  would 
undertake  to  drive  them ;   but  cruel  doom  of  God 


174  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XI.  292-325. 

prevented,  harsh  bonds  and  clownish  herdsmen.  Yet 
after  days  and  months  were  spent,  as  the  year  rolled 
and  other  seasons  came,  then  haughty  Iphiclus  re- 
leased him  on  his  telling  all  the  oracles.  The  will  of 
Zeus  was  done. 

"  Leda  I  saw,  the  wife  of  Tyndareus,  who  bore  to 
Tyndareus  two  stalwart  sons  :  Castor,  the  horseman, 
and  Polydeuces,  good  at  boxing.  These  in  a  kind  of 
life  the  nourishing  earth  now  holds ;  and  even  beneath 
the  ground  they  have  from  Zeus  the  boon  that  to-day 
they  be  alive,  to-morrow  dead  ;  and  they  are  allotted 
honors  like  the  gods. 

"  Iphimedeia  I  saw,  wife  of  Aloeus,  who  said  that 
she  had  lain  beside  Poseidon.  She  bore  two  chil- 
dren, but  short-lived  they  proved,  —  Otus,  the  god- 
like, and  the  far-famed  Ephialtes,  —  whom  the  fruitful 
earth  made  grow  to  be  the  tallest  and  most  beauti- 
ful of  men,  after  renowned  Orion ;  for  at  nine  years 
they  were  nine  cubits  broad,  and  in  height  they 
reached  nine  fathoms.  Therefore  they  even  threat- 
ened the  immortals  with  raising  on  Olympus  the  din 
of  furious  war.  Ossa  they  strove  to  set  upon  Olym- 
pus, and  upon  Ossa  leafy  Pelion,  that  so  the  heavens 
might  be  scaled.  And  this  they  would  have  done, 
had  they  but  reached  the  period  of  their  vigor  ;  but 
the  son  of  Zeus  whom  fair-haired  Leto  bore  destroyed 
them  both  before  below  their  temples  the  downy  hair 
had  sprung  and  covered  their  chins  with  the  fresh 
beard. 

"  Phaedra  and  Procris,  too,  I  saw,  and  beautiful 
Ariadne,  daughter  oT  wizard  Minos,  whom  Theseus 
tried  to  bring  from  Crete  to  the  slopes  of  sacred 
Athens.  Biit  he  gained  naught  thereby  ;  before  she 
came,  Artemis  slew  her  in  sea-girt  Dia,  prompted  by 
the  report  of  Dionysus. 


XI.  326-359.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  175 

"  Maera  and  Clymene  I  saw,  and  odious  Eriphyle 
who  took  a  bribe~of  gold  as  the  price  of  her  own  hus- 
band. But  all  I  cannot  tell,  nor  even  name  the  many 
heroes'  wives  and  daughters  whom  I  saw  ;  ere  that,  the 
immortal  night  would  wear  away.  Already  it  is  time 
to  sleep,  at  the  swift  ship  among  the  crew  or  here. 
My  journey  hence  rests  with  the  gods  and  you." 

As  thus  he  ended,  all  were  hushed  to  silence,  held 
by  the  spell  throughout  the  dusky  hall.  White-armed 
Arete  was  the  first  to  speak  :  "  Phaeacians,  how  seems 
to  you  this  man  in  beauty,  height,  and  balanced  mind 
within  ?  My  guest  indeed  he  is,  but  each  one  shares 
the  honor.  Be  not  in  haste  then  to  dismiss  him,  nor 
stint  your  gifts  to  one  so  much  in  need.  By  favor  of 
the  gods  great  wealth  is  in  your  houses." 

Then  also  spoke  the  old  lord  Echeneiis,  who  was 
the  oldest  of  Phaeacian  men  :  "  My  friends,  not  wide 
of  the  mark,  nor  of  her  reputation,  speaks  the  wise 
queen ;  therefore  give  heed.  Yet  word  and  work 
rest  with  Alcinoiis  here." 

Then  answered  him  Alcinoiis  and  said  :  "  Even  as 
she  speaks  that  word  shall  be,  if  I  be  now  the  living 
lord  of  oar-loving  Phaeacians !  But  let  our  guest, 
however  much  he  longs  for  home,  consent  to  stay  at 
all  events  until  to-morrow,  till  I  shall  make  our  gift 
complete.  To  send  him  hence  shall  be  the  charge  of 
all,  especially  of  me ;  for  power  within  this  land  rests 
here." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said : 
"  Mighty  Alcinoiis,  renowned  of  all,  if  you  should  bid 
me  stay  a  year  and  then  should  send  me  forth,  giving 
me  splendid  gifts,  that  is  what  I  would  choose  ;  for 
much  more  to  my  profit  would  it  be  with  fuller  hands 
to  reach  my  native  land.     Then  should  I  be  regarded 


176  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XL  360-393. 

more  and  welcomed  more  by  all  who  saw  me  coming 
home  to  Ithaca." 

Then  answered  him  Alcinoiis  and  said  :  "  Odysseus, 
we  judge  you  by  your  looks  to  be  no  cheat  or  thief  ; 
though  many  are  the  men  the  dark  earth  breeds,  and 
scatters  far  and  wide,  who  fashion  falsehoods  out  of 
what  no  man  can  see.  But  you  have  a  grace  of  word 
and  a  noble  mind  within,  and  you  told  your  tale  as 
skillfully  as  if  you  were  a  bard,  relating  all  the  Ar- 
gives'  and  your  own  sore  troubles.  But  now  declare 
me  this  and  plainly  tell :  did  you  see  any  of  the  god- 
like comrades  who  went  with  you  to  Ilios  and  there 
met  doom  ?  The  night  is  very  long ;  yes,  vastly  long. 
The  hour  for  sleeping  at  the  hall  is  not  yet  come. 
Tell  me  the  wondrous  story.  I  could  be  well  content 
till  sacred  dawn,  if  you  were  willing  in  the  hall  to  tell 
us  of  your  woes." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said  :  "  Lord 
Alcinoiis,  renowned  of  all,  there  is  a  time  for  stories 
and  a  time  for  sleep ;  yet  if  you  wish  to  listen  longer, 
I  would  not  shrink  from  telling  tales  more  pitiful  than 
these,  the  woes  of  my  companions  who  died  in  after- 
time,  men  who  escaped  the  grievous  war-cry  of  the 
Trojans  to  die  on  their  return  through  a  wicked  wo- 
man's will. 

"  When,  then,  chaste  Persephone  had  scattered  here 
and  there  those  spirits  of  tender  women,  there  came 
the  spirit  of  Agamemnon,  son  of  Atreus,  sorrowing. 
Around  thronged  other  spirits  of  men  who  by  his  side 
had  died  in  the  house  of  Aegisthus  and  there  had  met 
their  doom.  He  knew  me  as  soon  as  he  had  drunk 
of  the  dark  blood  ;  and  then  he  cried  aloud  and  let 
the  big  tears  fall,  and  stretched  his  hands  forth  ea- 
gerly to  grasp  me.     But  no,  there  was  no  strength  or 


XI.  394-425.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  177 

vigor  left,  such  as  was  once  within  his  supple  iimbs. 
I  wept  to  see  him,  and  pitied  him  from  my  heart,  and 
speaking  in  winged  words  I  said  : 

" c  Great  son  of  Atreus,  Agamemnon,  lord  of  men, 
what  doom  of  death  that  lays  men  low  o'erwhelmed 
you?  Was  it  on  shipboard  that  Poseidon  smote  you, 
raising  unwelcome  blasts  of  cruel  wind  ?  Or  did 
fierce  men  destroy  you  on  the  land,  while  you  were 
cuttiug  off  their  kine  or  their  fair  flocks  of  sheep,  or 
while  you  fought  to  win  their  town  and  carry  off  their 


women  ? ' 


"  So  I  spoke,  and  straightway  answering  me  said 
he  :  4  No,  high-born  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus, 
on  shipboard  Poseidon  did  not  smite  me,  raising  un- 
welcome blasts  of  cruel  wind,  nor  did  fierce  men  de- 
stroy me  on  the  land ;  it  was  Aegisthus,  plotting 
death  and  doom,  who  slew  me,  aided  by  my  accursed 
wife,  when  he  had  bidden  me  home  and  had  me  at  the 
feast,  even  as  one  kills  the  ox  before  the  manger.  So 
thus  I  died  a  lamentable  death,  and  all  my  men,  with 
no  escape,  were  slain  around  me ;  like  white-toothed 
swine  at  some  rich,  powerful  man's  wedding,  or  ban- 
quet, or  gay  festival.  You  have  yourself  been  pres- 
ent at  the  death  of  many  men,  —  men  slain  in  single 
combat  and  in  the  press  of  war ;  yet  here  you  would 
have  felt  your  heart  most  touched  with  pity,  to  see 
how  round  the  mixing-bowl  and  by  the  loaded  tables 
we  lay  about  the  hall,  and  all  the  pavement  ran  with 
blood.  Saddest  of  all,  I  heard  the  cry  of  Priam's 
daughter,  Cassandra,  whom  crafty  Clytaemnestra 
slew  beside  me ;  and  I,  on  the  ground,  lifted  my 
hands  and  clutched  my  sword  in  dying.  But  she,  the 
brutal  woman,  turned  away  and  did  not  deign,  though 
I  was  going  to  the  house  of  Hades,  to  draw  with  her 


178  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XI.  426-461. 

hand  my  eyelids  down  and  press  my  lips  together. 
Ah,  what  can  be  more  horrible  and  brutish  than  a  wo- 
man when  she  admits  into  her  thoughts  such  deeds  as 
these !  And  what  a  shameless  deed  she  plotted  to 
bring  about  the  murder  of  the  husband  of  her  youth ! 
I  used  to  think  how  glad  my  coming  home  would  be, 
even  to  my  children  and  my  slaves  ;  but  she,  intent  on 
such  extremity  of  crime,  brought  shame  upon  herself 
and  all  of  womankind  who  shall  be  born  hereafter, 
even  on  well-doers  too.' 

"  So  he  spoke,  and  answering  him  said  I :  '  Alas ! 
The  house  of  Atreus  far  -  seeing  Zeus  has  sorely 
plagued  with  women's  arts,  from  the  beginning :  for 
Helen's  sake  how  many  of  us  died  ;  and  Clytaemnes- 
tra  devised  a  plot  while  you  were  far  away.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  straightway  answering  me  said 
he  :  i  Never  be  you,  then,  gentle  to  your  wife,  nor 
speak  out  all  you  really  mean  ;  but  tell  a  part  and  let 
a  part  be  hid.  And  yet  on  you,  Odysseus,  no  violent 
death  shall  ever  fall  from  your  wife's  hand  ;  for  truly 
wise  and  of  an  understanding  heart  is  the  daughter 
of  Icarius,  heedful  Penelope.  As  a  young  bride  we 
left  her,  on  going  to  the  war.  A  child  was  at  her 
breast,  an  infant  then,  who  now  perhaps  sits  in  the 
ranks  of  men,  and  happy  too  ;  for  his  dear  father,  com- 
ing home,  will  see  him,  and  he  will  meet  his  father 
with  embrace,  as  children  should.  But  my  wife  did 
not  let  me  feast  my  eyes  upon  my  son ;  before  he 
x?ame,  she  slew  me.  Nay,  this  I  will  say  farther  ;  mark 
X&aWfc  well.  1  By  stealth,  not  openly,  bring  in  your  ship  to 
j&  shore,  for  there  is  no  more  faith  in  woman.!  But  now 
declare  me  this  and  plainly  tell  if  you  he"ar  my  son  is 
living  still  —  at  Orchomenus,  perhaps,  or  sandy  Pylos, 
or  at  the  home  of  Menelaus  in  broad  Sparta ;  for 
surely  nowhere  on  the  earth  has  royal  Orestes  died.' 


XL  462-492.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  179 

"So  lie  spoke,  and  answering  him  said  I:  '0  son 
of  Atrens,  why  question  me  of  this  ?  Whether  he  be 
alive  or  dead  I  do  not  know.  To  speak  vain  words  is 
ill.' 

"  In  such  sad  words  talking  with  one  another 
mournfully  we  stood,  letting  the  big  tears  fall.  And 
now  there  came  the  spirit  of  Achilles,  son  of  Peleus, 
and  of  Patroclus  too,  of  gallant  Antilochus,  and  of 
Ajax  who  was  first  in  beauty  and  in  stature  of  all  the 
Danaans  after  the  gallant  son  of  Peleus.  But  the 
spirit  of  swift-footed  Aeacides  knew  me,  and  sorrow- 
fully said  in  winged  words  : 

"  '  High-born  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus,  rash 
as  you  are,  what  will  you  undertake  more  desperate 
than  this  !  How  dared  you  come  down  hither  to  the 
house  of  Hades,  where  dwell  the  senseless  dead,  spec- 
tres of  toil-worn  men  ?  ' 

"  So  he  spoke,  and  answering  him  said  I : '  Achilles, 
son  of  Peleus,  foremost  of  the  Achaeans,  I  came  for 
consultation  with  Teiresias,  hoping  that  he  might  give 
advice  for  reaching  rugged  Ithaca.  I  have  not  yet 
been  near  Achaeanor  once  set  foot  upon  my  land,  but 
have  had  constant  trouble  ;  while  as  for  you,  Achilles, 
no  man  was  in  the  past  more  fortunate,  nor  in  the  fu- 
ture shall  be ;  for  formerly,  during  your  life,  we  Ar- 
gives  gave  you  equal  honor  with  the  gods,  and  now 
you  are  a  mighty  lord  among  the  dead,  when  here. 
Then  do  not  grieve  at  having  died,  Achilles.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  straightway  answering  me  said 
he:  4  Mock  not  at  death,  glorious  Odysseus. C  Better 
to  be  the  hireling  of  a  stranger,  and  serve  a  man  of 
mean  estate  whose  living  is  but  small,  than  be  the 
ruler  over  all  these  dead  and  goneA  No,  tell  me  tales 
of  my  proud  son,  whether  or  not  he  followed  to  the 


180  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XL  493-527 

war  to  be  a  leader  ;  tell  what  you  know  of  gallant  Pe- 
leus,  whether  he  still  has  honor  in  the  cities  of  the 
Myrmidons  ;  or  do  they  slight  him  now  in  Hellas  and 
in  Phthia,  because  old  age  has  touched  his  hands  and 
feet  ?  I  am  myself  no  longer  in  the  sunlight  to  defend 
him,  nor  like  what  I  once  was  when  on  the  Trojan 
plain  I  routed  a  brave  troop  in  succoring  the  Argives. 
If  once  like  that  I  could  but  come,  even  for  a  little 
space,  into  my  father's  house,  frightful  should  be  niy 
might  and  my  resistless  hands  to  any  who  are  trou- 
bling him  and  keeping  him  from  honor.' 

"  So  he  spoke,  and  answering  him  said  I :  '  Indeed, 
of  gallant  Peleus  I  know  nothing.  But  about  your 
dear  son  Neoptolemus,  I  will  tell  you  all  the  truth,  as 
you  desire ;  for  it  was  I,  in  my  trim  hollow  ship,  who 
brought  him  from  Scyros  to  the  mailed  Achaeans. 
And  when  encamped  at  Troy  we  held  a  council,  he 
always  was  the  first  to  speak,  and  no  word  missed  its 
mark ;  godlike  Nestor  and  I  alone  surpassed  him. 
Moreover,  on  the  Trojan  plain,  when  we  Achaeans 
battled,  he  never  tarried  in  the  throng  nor  at  the  ral- 
lying-place,  but  pressed  before  us  all,  yielding  to  none 
in  courage.  Many  a  man  he  slew  in  mortal  combat. 
Fully  I  cannot  tell,  nor  even  name  the  host  he  slew  in 
fighting  for  the  Argives  ;  but  how  he  vanquished  with 
his  sword  the  son  of  Telephus,  Eurypylus  the  hero  ! 
Many  of  that  Ceteian  band  fell  with  their  leader,  de- 
stroyed by  woman's  bribes.  So  goodly  a  man  as  he  I 
never  saw,  save  kingly  Memnon. 

"  '  Then  when  we  entered  the  horse  Epeius  made, 
—  we  chieftains  of  the  Argives,  —  and  it  lay  all  with 
me  to  shut  or  open  our  close  ambush,  other  captains 
and  councilors  of  the  Danaans  would  wipe  away  a 
tear,  and  their  limbs  shook  beneath  them  ;  but  watch- 


XI.  528-563.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  181 

ing  him,  at  no  time  did  I  see  his  fair  skin  pale,  nor 
from  his  cheeks  did  he  wipe  tears  away.  Often  he 
begged  to  leave  the  horse ;  he  fingered  his  sword-hilt 
and  his  bronze-tipped  spear,  longing  to  vex  the  Tro- 
jans. Yet  after  we  overthrew  the  lofty  town  of  Priam, 
he  took  his  share  of  spoil  and  an  honorable  prize,  and 
went  on  board  miliar med,  not  hit  by  brazen  point  nor 
wounded  in  close  combat,  as  for  the  most  part  happens 
in  war  ;   hap-hazard  Ares  rages.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  the  spirit  of  swift-footed  Aeacides 
departed  with  long  strides  across  the  field  of  asphodel, 
pleased  that  I  said  his  son  was  famous. 

"  But  the  other  spirits  of  those  dead  and  gone  stood 
sadly  there  ;  each  asked  for  what  he  loved.  Only  the 
spirit  of  Ajax,  son  of  Telamon,  held  aloof,  still  angry  at 
the  victory  I  gained  in  the  contest  at  the  ships  for  the 
armor  of  Achilles.  The  goddess  mother  of  Achilles 
offered  the  prize,  and  the  sons  of  the  Trojans  were  the 
judges,  —  they  and  Pallas  Athene.  Would  I  had 
never  won  in  such  a  strife,  since  thus  the  earth  closed 
round  the  head  of  Ajax,  who  in  beauty  and  achieve- 
ment surpassed  all  other  Danaans  save  the  gallant  son 
of  Peleus.     To  him  I  spoke  in  gentle  words  and  said : 

"  '  Ajax,  son  of  gallant  Telamon,  will  you  not,  even 
in  death,  forget  your  wrath  about  the  accursed  armor  ? 
To  plague  the  Argives  the  gods  gave  it,  since  such  a 
tower  as  you  were  lost  thereby.  For  you  as  for 
Achilles,  son  of  Peleus,  do  we  Achaeans  mourn  un- 
ceasingly. None  was  to  blame  but  Zeus,  who,  fiercely 
hating  all  the  host  of  Danaan  spearmen,  brought  upon 
you  this  doom.  Nay,  king,  draw  near,  that  you  may 
listen  to  our  voice  and  hear  our  words.  Abate  your 
pride  and  haughty  spirit.' 

"  I  spoke  ;  he  did  not  answer,  but  he  went  his  way 


182  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XL  564-596. 

after  the  other  spirits  of  those  dead  and  gone,  on  into 
Erebus.  Yet  then,  despite  his  wrath,  he  should  have 
spoken,  or  I  had  spoken  to  him,  but  that  the  heart 
within  my  breast  wished  to  see  other  spirits  of  the 
dead. 

"  There  I  saw  Minos,  the  illustrious  son  of  Zeus,  a 
golden  sceptre  in  his  hand,  administering  justice  to  the 
dead  from  where  he  sat,  while  all  around  men  called 
for  judgment  from  the  king,  sitting  and  standing  in 
the  wide-doored  hall  of  Hades. 

"  Next  I  marked  huge  Orion  drive  through  the  field 
of  asphodel  the  game  that  in  his  life  he  slew  among 
the  lonely  hills.  He  held  a  club  of  solid  bronze  that 
never  can  be  broken. 

"And  Titvus  I  saw,  the  son  of  far-famed  Gaia, 
stretched  on  the  plain  ;  across  nine  roods  he  stretched. 
Two  vultures  sat  beside  him,  one  upon  either  hand, 
and  tore  his  liver,  piercing  the  caul  within.  Yet  with 
his  hands  he  did  not  keep  them  off  ;  for  he  did  violence 
to  Leto,  the  honored  wife  of  Zeus,  as  she  was  going  to 
Pytho  through  pleasant  Panopeus. 

"  Tantalus,  too,  I  saw  in  grievous  torment  and  stand- 
ing in  a  pool.  It  touched  his  chin.  He  strained  for 
thirst,  but  could  not  take  and  drink  ;  for  as  the  old  man 
bent,  eager  to  drink,  the  water  always  was  absorbed 
and  disappeared,  and  at  his  feet  the  dark  earth  showed. 
God  made  it  dry.  Then  leafy-crested  trees  drooped 
down  their  fruit,  —  pears,  pomegranates,  apples  with 
shining  fruit,  sweet  figs,  and  thrifty  olives.  But  when 
the  old  man  stretched  his  hand  to  take,  a  breeze  would 
toss  them  toward  the  dusky  clouds. 

"  And  Sisyphus  I  saw  in  bitter  pains,  forcing  a 
monstrous  stone  along  with  both  his  hands.  Tugging 
with  hand  and  foot,  he  pushed  the  stone  upward  along 


XL  597-629.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  183 

a  hill.  But  when  he  thought  to  heave  it  on  clean  to 
the  summit,  a  mighty  power  would  turn  it  back ;  and 
so  once  more  down  to  the  ground  the  wicked  stone 
would  tumble.  Again  he  strained  to  push  it  back  ; 
sweat  ran  down  from  his  limbs,  and  from  his  head  a 
dust  cloud  rose. 

"  And  next  I  marked  the  might  of  Hercules,  —  his 
phantom  form  ;  for  he  himself  is  with  "tire"  immortal 
gods  reveling  at  their  feasts,  wed  to  fair-ankled  Hebe, 
child  of  great  Zeus  and  golden-sandaled  Here. 
Around  him  rose  a  clamor  of  the  dead,  like  that  of 
birds,  fleeing  all  ways  in  terror  ;  while  he,  like  gloomy 
night,  with  his  bare  bow  and  arrow  on  the  string, 
glared  fearfully,  as  if  forever  shooting.  Terrible  was 
the  baldric  round  about  his  breast,  a  golden  belt 
where  marvelous  devices  had  been  wrought,  bears  and 
wild  boars  and  fierce-eyed  lions,  struggles  and  fights, 
murders  and  blood-sheddings.  Let  the  artificer  de- 
sign no  more  who  once  achieved  that  sword-belt  by 
his  art.  Soon  as  he  saw,  he  knew  me,  and  sorrow- 
fully said  in  winged  words  : 

" '  High-born  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus,  so 
you,  poor  man,  work  out  a  cruel  task  such  as  I  once 
endured  when  in  the  sunlight.  I  was  the  son  of  Kro- 
nian  Zeus,  yet  I  had  pains  unnumbered ;  for  to  one 
very  far  beneath  me  I  was  bound,  and  he  imposed 
hard  labors.  He  even  sent  me  here  to  carry  off  the 
dog,  for  nothing  he  supposed  could  be  a  harder  labor. 
I  brought  the  dog  up  hence,  and  dragged  him  forth 
from  Hades.  Hermes  was  my  guide,  he  and  clear- 
eyed  Athene.' 

"  So  saying,  back  he  went  into  the  house  of  Plades, 
while  I  still  held  my  place,  hoping  there  yet  might 
come  some   other  heroes   who  died   long  ago.     And 


184  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XL  630-640. 

more  of  the  men  of  old  I  might  have  seen,  as  I  de- 
sired, —  Theseus  and  Peirithoiis,  famous  children  of 
the  gods ;  but  ere  they  came,  myriads  of  the  people  of 
the  dead  gathered  with  awful  cry.  Pale  terror  seized 
me ;  I  thought  perhaps  the  Gorgon  head  of  some  fell 
monster  high  Persephone  might  send  out  of  the  house 
of  Hades.  So,  turning  to  my  ship,  I  called  my  crew 
to  come  on  board  and  loose  the  cables.  Quickly  they 
came,  took  places  at  the  pins,  and  down  the  Ocean- 
stream  the  flowing  current  bore  us,  with  oarage  first 
and  then  a  nleasant  breeze." 


XII. 

THE   SIRENS,   SCYLLA,  CHARYBDIS,  AND   THE   KINE   OF 

THE   SUN. 

"  After  our  ship  had  left  the  current  of  the  Ocean- 
stream  and  come  into  the  waters  of  the  open  sea  and 
to  the  island  of  Aeaea,  where  is  the  dwelling  of  the 
early  dawn,  its  dancing-ground  and  place  of  rising,  as 
we  ran  in  we  beached  our  ship  among  the  sands,  and 
forth  we  went  ourselves  upon  the  shore  ;  where,  falling 
fast  asleep,  we  awaited  sacred  dawn. 

"  But  when  the  early  rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared, 
I  sent  men  forward  to  the  house  of  Circe  to  fetch  the 
body  of  the  dead  Elpenor.  Then  hastily  cutting  logs, 
where  the  coast  stood  out  most  boldly  we  buried  him, 
in  sadness,  letting  the  big  tears  fall.  After  the  dead 
was  burned  and  the  armor  of  the  dead  man,  we  raised 
a  mound,  and  dragged  a  stone  upon  it,  and  fixed  on 
the  mound's  highest  point  his  shapely  oar. 

"  With  all  this  we  were  busied  ;  nevertheless,  our 
coming:  from  the  house  of  Hades  was  not  concealed 
from  Circe,  but  quickly  she  arrayed  herself  and  came 
to  meet  us.  Her  maids  bore  bread  and  stores  of  meat 
and  ruddy  sparkling  wine  ;  and  standing  in  the  midst 
of  all,  the  heavenly  goddess  said  : 

"  <  Madmen  !  who  have  gone  down  alive  into  the 
house  of  Hades,  thus  twice  to  meet  with  death  while 
others  die  but  once,  come,  eat  this  food  and  drink  this 
wine  here  for  to-day,  and  when  to-morrow  comes  you 


186  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XII.  25-59. 

shall  set  sail.  I  will  myself  point  out  the  way  and 
fully  show  you  all ;  lest  by  unhappy  lack  of  skill  you 
be  distressed  on  sea  or  land  and  suffer  harm.' 

"  So  she  spoke,  and  our  high  hearts  assented.  Thus 
all  throughout  the  day  till  setting  sun  we  sat  and 
feasted  on  abundant  meat  and  pleasant  wine ;  and 
when  the  sun  had  set  and  darkness  came,  my  men  lay 
down  to  sleep  by  the  ship's  cables  ;  but  leading  me  by 
the  hand  apart  from  my  good  comrades,  the  goddess 
bade  me  sit,  herself  reclined  beside  me,  and  asked  me 
for  my  story.  So  I  related  all  the  tale  in  its  due 
order.     Then  thus  spoke  potent  Circe : 

"  '  All  this  is  ended  now ;  but  listen  to  what  I  say, 
and  God  himself  shall  help  you  to  remember.  First 
you  will  meet  the  Sirens,  who  cast  a  spell  on  every 
man  who  goes  their  way.  Whoso  draws  near  unwarned 
and  hears  the  Sirens'  voices,  by  him  no  wife  nor  little 
child  shall  ever  stand,  glad  at  his  coming  home ;  for 
the  Sirens  cast  a  spell  of  penetrating  song,  sitting 
within  a  meadow.  Near  by  is  a  great  heap  of  rotting 
human  bones  ;  fragments  of  skin  are  shriveling  on 
them.  Therefore  sail  on,  and  stop  your  comrades' 
ears  with  sweet  wax  kneaded  soft,  that  none  of  the 
rest  may  hear.  If  you  yourself  will  listen,  see  that 
they  bind  you  hand  and  foot  on  the  swift  ship,  up- 
right upon  the  mast-block,  —  round  it  let  the  rope 
be  wound,  —  that  so  with  pleasure  you  may  hear  the 
Sirens'  song.  But  if  you  should  entreat  your  men 
and  bid  them  set  you  free,  let  them  with  still  more 
fetters  bind  you  fast. 

" '  After  your  men  have  brought  the  ship  past 
these,  what  is  to  be  your  course  I  will  not  fully  say ; 
do  you  yourself  ponder  it  in  your  heart.  I  will  de- 
scribe both  ways.     Along  one  route   stand   beetlin 


XII.  60-94.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  187 

cliffs,  and  on  them  roar  the  mighty  waves  of  dark- 
eyed  Amphitrite ;  the  blessed  gods  call  them  the 
Wanderers.  This  way  not  even  winged  things  can 
pass,  —  no,  not  the  gentle  doves  which  bear  ambrosia 
to  father  Zeus ;  but  one  of  them  the  smooth  rock  al- 
ways draws  away,  though  the  father  puts  another  in 
to  fill  the  number.  No  ship  of  man  ever  escapes 
when  once  come  hither,  but  in  one  common  ruin 
planks  of  ships  and  sailors'  bodies  are  swept  by  the 
sea-waves  and  storms  of  deadly  flame.  The  only 
coursing  ship  that  ever  passed  this  way  was  Argo, 
famed  of  all,  when  voyaging  from  Aeetes  ;  and  her 
the  waves  would  soon  have  dashed  on  the  great  rocks, 
but  Here  brought  her  through  from  love  of  Jason. 

" '  By  the  other  way  there  are  two  crags,  one  reach- 
ing up  to  the  broad  heavens  with  its  sharp  peak. 
Clouds  gather  about  it  darkly  and  never  float  away ; 
light  strikes  its  peak  neither  in  heat  nor  harvest.  No 
mortal  man  could  clamber  up  or  down  it,  though 
twenty  hands  and  feet  were  his ;  for  the  rock  is 
smooth,  as  it  were  polished.  About  the  middle  of  the 
crag  is  a  dim  cave,  facing  the  west  and  Erebus,  the 
very  way  where  you  must  steer  your  rounded  ship, 
glorious  Odysseus  ;  and  from  that  rounded  ship  no 
lusty  youth  could  with  a  bow-shot  reach  the  hollow 
cave.  Here  Scylla  dwells  and  utters  hideous  cries ; 
her  voice  like  that  of  a  young  dog,  and  she  herself  an 
evil  monster.  None  can  behold  her  and  be  glad,  be 
it  a  god  who  meets  her.  Twelve  feet  she  has,  and  all 
misshapen ;  six  necks,  exceeding  long ;  on  each  a 
frightful  head ;  in  these  three  rows  of  teeth,  stout  and 
close-set,  fraught  with  dark  death.  As  far  as  the 
waist  she  is  drawn  down  writhin  the  hollow  cave  ;  but 
she  holds  forth  her  heads  outside  the  awful  chasm 


188  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XII.  95-127. 

and  fishes  there,  spying  around  the  crag  for  dolphins, 
dogfish,  or  whatever  larger  creature  she  may  catch, 
such  things  as  voiceful  Amphitrite  breeds  by  thou- 
sands. Never  could  sailors  boast  of  passing  her  in 
safety ;  for  with  each  head  she  takes  a  man,  snatch- 
ing him  from  the  dark-bowed  ship. 

"  fc  The  second  crag  is  lower,  you  will  see,  Odysseus, 
and  close  beside  the  first ;  you  well  might  shoot  across. 
On  it  a  fig-tree  stands,  tall  and  in  leafy  bloom,  under- 
neath which  divine  Charybdis  sucks  the  dark  water 
down.  For  thrice  a  day  she  sends  it  up,  and  thrice 
she  sucks  it  down,  —  a  fearful  sight !  May  you  not 
happen  to  be  there  when  it  goes  down,  for  nobody 
could  save  you  then  from  ill,  not  even  the  Earth- 
shaker.  But  swiftly  turn  your  course  toward  Scylla's 
crag,  and  speed  the  ship  along  ;  for  surely  it  is  better 
to  miss  six  comrades  from  your  ship  than  all  together.' 

"  So  she  spoke,  and  answering  her,  said  I :  '  Yet, 
goddess,  tell  me  this  in  very  truth  :  might  I  not  possi- 
bly escape  from  fell  Charybdis,  and  then  beat  off  that 
other  when  she  assails  my  crew  ?  ' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  straight  the  heavenly  goddess 
answered  :  i  Foolhardy  man  !  Still  bent  on  war  and 
struggle  !  Will  you  not  yield  even  to  immortal  gods  ? 
This  is  no  mortal  being,  but  an  immortal  woe,  —  dire, 
hard,  and  fierce,  and  not  to  be  fought  down.  Courage 
is  nothing  ;  flight  is  best.  For  if  you  arm  and  lin- 
ger by  the  rock,  I  fear  that,  issuing  forth  once  more, 
she  may  attack  you  with  her  many  heads  and  carry  off 
as  many  men.  Therefore  with  zeal  speed  on ;  and 
call  on  Force,  the  mother  of  this  Scylla,  who  bore  her 
for  a  bane  to  humankind  ;  she  will  restrain  her  from 
a  second  onset. 

"  '  Next,  you  will  reach  the  island  of  Thrinacia, 


XII.  128-159.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  189 

where  in  great  numbers  feed  the  kme  and  the  sturdy 
flocks  of  the  Sun,  —  seven  droves  of  kine  and  just  as 
many  beautiful  flocks  of  sheep,  fifty  in  each.  Of  them, 
no  young  are  born,  nor  do  they  ever  die.  Goddesses 
are  their  shepherds,  nymphs  of  fair  hair,  Phaethousa 
and  Lampetia,  whom  to  the  exalted  Sun  divine  Neaera 
bore.  These  their  potent  mother  bore  and  reared, 
and  sent  them  to  the  island  of  Thrinacia  to  dwell 
afar  and  keep  their  father's  flocks  and  crook-horned 
kine.  If  you  leave  these  unharmed  and  heed  your 
homeward  way,  you  still  may  come  to  Ithaca,  though 
you  shall  meet  with  hardship.  But  if  you  harm  them, 
then  I  predict  the  loss  of  ship  and  crew  ;  and  even 
if  you  yourself  escape,  late  shall  you  come,  in  evil 
plight,  with  loss  of  all  your  crew.' 

"  Even  as  she  spoke,  the  gold-throned  morning 
came,  and  up  the  island  the  heavenly  goddess  went 
her  way  ;  I  turned  me  toward  my  ship,  and  called  my 
crew  to  come  on  board  and  loose  the  cables.  Quickly 
they  came,  took  places  at  the  pins,  and  sitting  in  or- 
der smote  the  foaming  water  with  their  oars.  And 
for  our  aid  behind  our  dark-bowed  ship  came  a  fair 
wind  to  fill  our  sail,  a  welcome  comrade,  sent  us  by 
fair  -  haired  Circe,  the  mighty  goddess,  human  of 
speech.  When  we  had  done  our  work  at  the  several 
ropes  about  the  ship,  we  sat  us  down,  while  wind  and 
helmsman  kept  her  steady. 

"  Now  to  my  men,  with  aching  heart,  I  said  :  '  My 
friends,  it  is  not  right  for  only  one  or  two  to  know 
the  oracles  which  Circe  told,  that  heavenly  goddess. 
Therefore  I  speak,  that,  knowing  all,  we  so  may  die, 
or  fleeing  death  and  doom,  we  may  escape.  She 
warns  us  first  against  the  marvelous  Sirens,  and  bids 
us  flee  their  voice  and  flowery  meadow.     Only  myself 


190  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XII.  160-191. 

she  bade  to  hear  their  song  ;  but  bind  me  with  galling 
cords,  to  hold  me  firm,  upright  upon  the  mast-block, 
—  round  it  let  the  rope  be  wound.  And  if  I  should 
entreat  you,  and  bid  you  set  me  free,  thereat  with 
still  more  fetters  bind  me  fast.' 

"  Thus  I,  relating  all  my  tale,  talked  with  my  com- 
rades. Meanwhile  our  stanch  ship  swiftly  neared  the 
Sirens*  island ;  a  fair  wind  swept  her  on.  On  a  sud- 
den the  wind  ceased ;  there  came  a  breathless  calm ; 
Heaven  hushed  the  waves.  My  comrades,  rising, 
furled  the  sail,  stowed  it  on  board  the  hollow  ship, 
then  sitting  at  their  oars  whitened  the  water  with  the 
polished  blades.  But  I  with  my  sharp  sword  cut  a 
great  cake  of  wax  into  small  bits,  which  I  then 
kneaded  in  my  sturdy  hands.  Soon  the  wax  warmed, 
forced  by  the  powerful  pressure  and  by  the  rays  of 
the  exalted  Sun,  the  lord  of  all.  Then  one  by  one 
I  stopped  the  ears  of  all  my  crew ;  and  on  the  deck 
they  bound  me  hand  and  foot,  upright  upon  the  mast- 
block,  round  which  they  wound  the  rope  ;  and  sit- 
ting down  they  smote  the  foaming  water  with  their 
oars.  But  when  we  were  as  far  away  as  one  can  call 
and  driving  swiftly  onward,  our  speeding  ship,  as  it 
drew  near,  did  not  escape  the  Sirens,  and  thus  they 
lifted  up  their  penetrating  voice  : 

"  '  Come  hither,  come,  Odysseus,  whom  all  praise, 
great  glory  of  the  Achaeans  !  Bring  in  your  ship, 
and  listen  to  our  song.  For  none  has  ever  passed  us 
in  a  black-hulled  ship  till  from  our  lips  he  heard  ec- 
static song,  then  went  his  way  rejoicing  and  with 
larger  knowledge.  For  we  know  all  that  on  the  plain 
of  Troy  Argives  and  Trojans  suffered  at  the  gods' 
behest ;  we  know  whatever  happens  on  the  bounteous 
earth.' 


XII.  192-223.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  191 

"  So  spoke  they,  sending  forth  their  glorious  song, 
and  my  heart  longed  to  listen.  Knitting  my  brows, 
I  signed  my  men  to  set  me  free ;  but  bending  for- 
ward, on  they  rowed.  And  straightway  Perimedes 
and  Euryloclms  arose  and  laid  upon  me  still  more 
cords  and  drew  them  tighter.  Then,  after  passing  by, 
when  we  could  hear  no  more  the  Sirens'  voice  nor  any 
singing,  quickly  my  trusty  crew  removed  the  wax  with 
which  I  stopped  their  ears,  and  set  me  free  from  bon- 
dage. 

"  Soon  after  we  left  the  island,  I  observed  a  smoke, 
I  saw  high  waves  and  beard  a  plunging  sound.  From 
the  hands  of  my  frightened  men  down  fell  the  oars, 
and  splashed  against  the  current.  There  the  ship 
stayed,  for  they  worked  the  tapering  oars  no  more. 
Along  the  ship  I  passed,  inspiriting  my  men  with 
cheering  words,  standing  by  each  in  turn  : 

" '  Friends,  hitherto  we  have  not  been  untried  in 
dan  o-er.  Here  is  no  sweater  danger  than  when  the 
Cyclops  penned  us  with  brutal  might  in  the  deep  cave. 
Yet  out  of  that,  through  energy  of  mine,  through  will 
and  wisdom,  we  escaped.  These  dangers,  too,  I  think 
some  day  we  shall  remember.  Come  then,  and  what 
I  say  let  us  all  follow.  You  with  your  oars  strike 
the  deep  breakers  of  the  sea,  while  sitting  at  the  pins, 
and  see  if  Zeus  will  set  us  free  from  present  death 
and  let  us  go  in  safety.  And,  helmsman,  these  are 
my  commands  for  you ;  lay  them  to  heart,  for  you 
control  the  rudders  of  our  hollow  ship  :  keep  the  ship 
off  that  smoke  and  surf  and  hug  the  crags,  or  else,  be- 
fore you  know  it,  she  may  veer  off  that  way,  and  you 
will  bring  us  into  danger.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  my  words  they  quickly  heeded. 
But  Scylla  I  did  not  name,  —  that  hopeless  horror,  — 


192  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XII.  224-259. 

for  fear  through  fright  iny  men  might  cease  to  row, 
and  huddle  all  together  in  the  hold.  I  disregarded 
too  the  hard  behest  of  Circe,  when  she  had  said  I  must 
by  no  means  arm.  Putting  on  my  glittering  armor  and 
taking  in  my  hands  my  two  long  spears,  I  went  upon 
the  ship's  fore-deck,  for  thence  I  looked  for  the  first 
sight  of  Scylla  of  the  rock,  who  brought  my  men  dis- 
aster. Nowhere  could  I  descry  her  ;  I  tired  my  eyes 
with  searching  up  and  down  the  dusky  cliff. 

"  So  up  the  strait  we  sailed  in  sadness ;  for  here  lay 
Scylla,  and  there  divine  Charybdis  fearfully  sucked 
the  salt  sea-water  down.  Whenever  she  belched  it 
forth,  like  a  kettle  in  fierce  flame  all  would  foam 
swirling  up,  and  overhead  spray  fell  upon  the  tops  of 
both  the  crags.  But  when  she  gulped  the  salt  sea- 
water  down,  then  all  within  seemed  in  a  whirl ;  the 
rock  around  roared  fearfully,  and  down  below  the  bot- 
tom showed,  dark  with  the  sand.  Pale  terror  seized 
my  men ;  on  her  we  looked  and  feared  to  die. 

"  And  now  it  was  that  Scylla  snatched  from  the 
hollow  ship  six  of  my  comrades  who  were  best  in  skill 
and  strength.  Turning  my  eyes  toward  my  swift  ship 
to  seek  my  men,  I  saw  their  feet  and  hands  already 
in  the  air  as  they  were  carried  up.  They  screamed 
aloud  and  called  my  name  for  the  last  time,  in  agony 
of  heart.  As  when  a  fisher,  on  a  jutting  rock,  with 
long  rod  throws  a  bait  to  lure  the  little  fishes,  casting 
into  the  deep  the  horn  of  stall-fed  ox ;  then,  catching 
a  fish,  flings  it  ashore  writhing  ;  even  so  were  these 
drawn  writhing  up  the  rocks.  There  at  her  door  she 
ate  them,  loudly  shrieking  and  stretching  forth  their 
hands  in  mortal  pangs  toward  me.  That  was  the 
saddest  sight  my  eyes  have  ever  seen,  in  all  my  toils, 
searching  the  ocean  pathways. 


XII  260-293.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  193 

"  Now  after  we  had  passed  the  rocks  of  dire  Cha- 
rybdis  and  of  Scylla,  straight  we  drew  near  the  pleas- 
ant island  of  the  god.  Here  were  the  goodly  broad- 
browed  kine  and  the  many  sturdy  flocks  of  the  exalted 
Sun.  While  still  at  sea,  on  the  black  ship,  I  heard 
the  lowing  of  stalled  cattle  and  the  bleat  of  sheep  ; 
and  on  my  mind  fell  words  of  the  blind  prophet, 
Teiresias  of  Thebes,  and  of  Aeaean  Circe,  who  very 
strictly  charged  me  to  shun  the  island  of  the  Sun,  the 
cheerer  of  mankind.  So  to  my  men  with  aching  heart 
I  said  : 

"'My  suffering  comrades,  hearken  to  my  words, 
that  I  may  tell  you  of  the  warnings  of  Teiresias,  and 
of  Aeaean  Circe,  who  very  strictly  charged  me  to 
shun  the  island  of  the  Sun,  the  cheerer  of  mankind ; 
for  there  our  deadliest  danger  lay,  she  said.  Then 
past  the  island  speed  the  black  ship  on  her  way.' 

"As  I  spoke  thus,  their  very  souls  were  crushed 
within  them,  and  instantly  Eurylochus,  with  surly 
words,  made  answer :  '  Headstrong  are  you,  Odysseus  ; 
more  than  man's  is  your  mettle,  and  your  limbs  never 
tire ;  and  yet  you  must  be  made  of  nothing  else  than 
iron  not  to  allow  your  comrades,  worn  with  fatigue 
and  sleep,  to  land,  though  on  this  sea-girt  island  we 
might  make  once  more  a  savory  supper.  Instead, 
just  as  we  are,  night  falling  fast,  you  bid  us  journey 
on  and  wander  from  the  island  over  the  misty  deep. 
But  in  the  night  rough  winds  arise,  fatal  to  vessels  ; 
and  how  could  any  one  escape  from  utter  ruin  if  by 
some  chance  a  sudden  storm  of  wind  should  come,  the 
south  wind  or  the  blustering  west,  which  wreck  ships 
oftentimes,  heedless  of  sovereign  gods?  No,  let  us 
now  obey  the  dark  night's  bidding,  let  us  prepare 
our  supper  and  rest  by  the  black  ship;  to-morrow 
morning  we  will  embark  and  sail  the  open  sea.' 


194  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XII.  294-326. 

"  So  spoke  Eurylochus,  the  rest  assented,  and  then 
I  knew  some  god  intended  ill ;  and  speaking  in  winged 
words  I  said  : 

" '  Eurylochus,  plainly  you  force  me,  since  I  am 
only  one.  But  come,  all  swear  me  now  a  solemn  oath 
that  if  we  find  a  herd  of  cattle  or  great  flock  of  sheep, 
none  in  mad  willfulness  will  slay  a  cow  or  sheep ;  but 
be  content,  and  eat  the  food  immortal  Circe  gave.' 

"So  I  spoke,  and  they  then  took  the  oath  which  I 
required.  And  after  they  had  sworn  and  ended  all 
their  oath,  we  moored  our  stanch  ship  in  the  rounded 
harbor,  near  a  fresh  stream,  and  my  companions  left 
the  ship  and  busily  got  supper.  But  after  they  had 
stayed  desire  for  drink  and  food,  then  calling  to  re- 
membrance their  dear  comrades,  they  wept  for  those 
whom  Scylla  ate,  those  whom  she  snatched  from  out 
the  hollow  ship  ;  and  as  they  wept,  on  them  there  came 
a  pleasant  sleep.  Now  when  it  was  the  third  watch  of 
the  night  and  the  stars  crossed  the  zenith,  cloud-gather- 
ing Zeus  sent  forth  a  furious  wind  in  a  fierce  tempest, 
and  covered  with  his  clouds  both  land  and  sea ;  night 
broke  from  heaven.  And  when  the  early  rosy-fingered 
dawn  appeared,  we  beached  our  ship,  hauling  her  up 
into  a  hollow  cave  where  there  were  pretty  dancing- 
grounds  and  haunts  for  nymphs.  Then  holding  a 
council,  I  said  to  all  my  men  : 

"  'Friends,  there  is  food  and  drink  enough  on  the 
swift  ship  ;  let  us  then  spare  the  kine,  for  fear  we 
come  to  harm,  for  these  are  the  herds  and  sturdy 
flocks  of  a  dread  god,  the  Sun,  who  all  things  over- 
sees, all  overhears.' 

"  So  I  spoke,  and  their  high  hearts  assented.  But 
all  that  month  incessant  south  winds  blew ;  there 
came  no  wind  except  from  east  and  south.     So  long  as 


XII.  327-359.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  195 

they  had  bread  and  ruddy  wine,  they  spared  the  kine, 
because  they  loved  their  lives.  But  when  the  vessel's 
stores  were  now  all  spent,  and  roaming  perforce  they 
sought  for  game,  —  for  fish,  for  fowl,  for  what  might 
come  to  hand,  caught  by  their  crooked  hooks,  —  and 
hunger  pinched  their  bellies,  then  I  departed  by  my- 
self far  up  the  island,  to  beg  the  gods  to  show  my 
homeward  way.  And  when  by  a  walk  across  the  is- 
land I  had  escaped  my  crew,  I  washed  my  hands 
where  there  wras  shelter  from  the  breeze,  and  offered 
prayer  to  all  the  gods  that  hold  Olympus.  But  they 
poured  down  sweet  sleep  upon  my  eyelids,  while  Eury- 
lochus  began  his  evil  counsel  to  my  crew : 

"  '  My  suffering  comrades,  hearken  to  my  words. 
Hateful  is  every  form  of  death  to  wretched  mortals ; 
and  yet  to  die  by  hunger,  and  so  to  meet  one's  doom, 
is  the  most  pitiful  of  all.  Come  then,  and  let  us  drive 
away  the  best  of  the  Sun's  kine,  and  sacrifice  them  to 
the  immortals  who  hold  the  open  sky.  And  if  we 
ever  come  to  Ithaca,  our  native  land,  we  will  at  once 
build  a  rich  temple  to  the  exalted  Sun,  and  put  therein 
many  fair  offerings.  If  then  the  Sun,  wroth  for  his 
high-horned  kine,  seeks  to  destroy  our  ship,  and  other 
gods  consent,  for  my  part  I  would  rather,  open-mouthed 
in  the  sea,  give  up  my  life  at  once  than  slowly  let  it 
wear  away  here  in  this  desert  island.' 

"  So  spoke  Eurylochus  ;  the  rest  assented.  Forth- 
with they  drove  away  the  best  of  the  Sun's  kine  out 
of  the  field  close  by ;  for  not  far  from  the  dark-bowed 
ship  the  kine  were  grazing,  crook-horned  and  beauti- 
ful and  broad  of  brow.  Round  them  they  stood  and 
prayed  the  gods,  stripping  the  tender  leaves  from  off 
a  lofty  oak ;  for  they  had  no  white  barley  on  the  well- 
benched  ship.     Then  after  prayer,  when  they  had  cut 


196  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XII.  360-390. 

the  throats  and  flayed  the  kine,  they  cut  away  the 
thighs,  wrapped  them  in  fat  in  double  layers,  and 
placed  raw  flesh  thereon.  They  had  no  wine  to  pour 
upon  the  blazing  victims,  but  using  water  for  libation 
they  roasted  all  the  entrails.  So  after  the  thighs  were 
burned  and  the  inward  parts  were  tasted,  they  sliced 
the  rest  and  stuck  it  on  the  spits. 

"  And  now  the  pleasant  sleep  fled  from  my  eyelids ; 
I  hastened  to  the  swift  ship  and  the  shore.  But  on 
my  way,  as  I  drew  near  to  the  curved  ship,  around 
me  came  the  savory  smell  of  fat.  I  groaned  and 
called  aloud  to  the  immortal  gods  : 

" '  O  father  Zeus,  and  all  you  other  blessed  gods 
that  live  forever,  verily  to  my  ruin  you  laid  me  in 
ruthless  sleep,  while  my  men  left  behind  plotted  a 
monstrous  deed.' 

"  Soon  to  the  exalted  Sun  came  long-robed  Lampe- 
tia,  bearing  him  word  that  we  had  slain  his  kine  ;  and 
straightway  with  an  angry  heart  he  thus  invoked  the 
immortals  : 

"  c  O  father  Zeus,  and  all  you  other  blessed  gods 
that  live  forever,  avenge  me  on  the  comrades  of  Laer- 
tes' son,  Odysseus,  who  insolently  slew  the  kine  in 
which  I  joy  as  I  go  forth  into  the  starry  sky,  or  as 
again  toward  earth  I  turn  back  from  the  sky.  But 
if  they  do  not  make  me  fit  atonement  for  the  kine,  I 
will  go  down  to  Hades  and  shine  amonof  the  dead.' 

"  Then  answered  him  cloud-gathering  Zeus,  and 
said  :  '  O  Sun,  do  you  shine  on  among  the  immortals 
and  on  the  fruitful  fields  of  mortal  men.  Soon  I  will 
smite  their  swift  ship  with  a  gleaming  bolt,  and  cleave 
it  in  pieces  in  the  middle  of  the  wine-dark  sea.' 

"  All  this  I  heard  from  fair-haired  Calypso,  who 
said  she  heard  it  from  the  Guide-god  Hermes. 


XII.  391-425.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  197 

"  Now  when  I  caine  to  the  ship  and  to  the  sea,  I 
chid  my  men,  confronting  each  in  turn.  But  no  help 
could  we  find  ;  the  kine  were  dead  already.  Soon  too 
the  gods  made  prodigies  appear :  the  skins  would 
crawl;  the  spitted  flesh,  both  roast  and  raw,  would 
moan  ;  and  sounds  came  forth  like  those  of  kine. 

"  For  six  days  afterwards  my  trusty  comrades 
feasted,  for  they  had  driven  away  the  best  of  the  Sun's 
kine ;  but  when  Zeus,  the  son  of  Kronos,  brought  the 
seventh  day  round,  then  the  wind  ceased  to  blow  a 
gale,  and  we  in  haste  embarking  put  forth  on  the  open 
sea,  setting  our  mast  and  hoisting  the  white  sail. 

"  Yet  when  we  had  left  the  island  and  no  other  land 
appeared,  but  only  sky  and  sea,  the  son  of  Kronos  set 
a  dark  cloud  over  the  hollow  ship  and  the  deep 
gloomed  below.  The  ship  ran  on  for  no  long  time ; 
for  soon  a  shrill  west  wind  arose,  blowing  a  heavy 
gale.  The  storm  of  wind  snapped  both  the  forestays 
of  the  mast.  Back  the  mast  fell,  and  all  its  gear  lay 
scattered  in  the  hold.  At  the  ship's  stern  it  struck 
the  helmsman  on  the  head  and  crushed  his  skull,  all 
in  an  instant ;  like  a  diver  from  the  deck  he  dropped, 
and  from  his  frame  the  strong  life  fled.  Zeus  at  the 
same  time  thundered,  hurling  his  bolt  against  the  ship. 
She  quivered  in  every  part,  struck  by  the  bolt  of  Zeus, 
and  filled  with  sulphur  smoke.  Out  of  the  ship  my 
comrades  fell  and  then  like  sea-fowl  were  borne  by 
the  side  of  the  black  ship  along  the  waves ;  God  cut 
them  off  from  coming  home.-, 

"  I  myself  paced  the  ship  until  the  surge  tore  her 
ribs  off  the  keel,  which  the  waves  then  carried  alone: 
dismantled.  The  mast  broke  at  the  keel ;  but  to  it 
clung  the  backstay,  made  of  ox-hide.  With  this  1 
bound  the  two  together,  keel  and  mast,  and  getting  a 
seat  on  these,  I  drifted  before  the  deadly  winds. 


198  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XII.  426-453. 

"  And  now  the  west  wind  ceased  to  blow  a  gale  ;  but 
soon  the  south  wind  came  and  brought  me  anguish 
that  I  must  measure  back  my  way  to  fell  Charybdis. 
All  night  I  drifted  on,  and  with  the  sunrise  I  came  to 
Scylla's  crag  and  dire  Charybdis.  She  at  that  moment 
sucked  the  salt  sea-water  down  ;  and  when  to  the  tall 
fig-tree  I  was  upward  borne,  I  clutched  and  clung  as  a 
bat  clings.  Yet  could  I  nowhere  set  my  feet  firmly 
down  or  climb  the  tree ;  for  its  roots  were  far  away 
and  out  of  reach  its  branches,  and  these  were  long 
and  large,  and  overspread  Charybdis.  But  steadily 
I  clung,  until  she  should  disgorge  my  mast  and  keel ; 
and  as  I  hoped  they  came,  though  it  was  late.  But  at 
the  hour  one  rises  from  the  assembly  for  his  supper, 
after  deciding  many  quarrels  of  contentious  men,  then 
was  it  that  the  timbers  came  to  light  from  out  Cha- 
rybdis. I  let  go  feet  and  hands,  and  down  I  dropped 
by  the  long  timbers,  and  getting  a  seat  on  these  rowed 
onward  with  my  hands.  But  the  father  of  men  and 
gods  gave  me  no  further  sight  of  Scylla,  or  else  I 
should  not  have  escaped  from  utter  ruin. 

"  Thence  for  nine  days  I  drifted  ;  on  the  tenth,  at 
night,  gods  brought  me  to  the  island  of  Ogygia,  where 
dwells  Calypso,  a  fair-haired  powerful  goddess,  hu- 
man of  speech.  She  welcomed  me  and  gave  me  care. 
Why  tell  the  tale  ?  It  was  but  yesterday  I  told  it  in 
the  hall  to  you  and  your  good  wife  ;  and  it  is  irk- 
some to  tell  a  plain-told  tale  a  second  time." 


XIII. 

FROM   PHAEACIA   TO   ITHACA. 

As  he  thus  ended,  all  were  hushed  to  silence,  held 
by  the  spell  throughout  the  dusky  hall.  At  length, 
Alcinoiis  answering  said  :  "  Odysseus,  having  crossed 
the  brazen  threshold  of  my  high-roofed  house,  you 
shall  be  aided  home  with  no  more  wanderings,  be 
sure,  long  as  you  now  have  suffered.  And  this  I  say 
with  earnestness  to  everybody  here,  to  you  who  in  my 
hall  drink  of  the  elders'  sparkling  wine  and  listen  to 
the  bard  :  you  know  that  in  a  polished  chest  lie  gar- 
ments for  the  stranger,  with  rich-wrought  gold  and 
all  the  other  gifts  which  the  Phaeacian  councilors  have 
brought  him  hither.  But  let  us  also,  each  man  here, 
give  a  caldron  and  large  tripod  ;  then  gathering  the 
cost  among  the  people,  we  will  repay  ourselves.  For 
one  to  give  outright  were  hard  indeed." 

So  said  Alcinoiis,  and  his  saying  pleased  them ; 
and  now  desiring  rest,  they  each  departed  homeward. 
But  when  the  early  rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared,  they 
hastened  to  the  ship  and  brought  the  gladdening 
bronze.  Revered  Alcinoiis,  going  himself  aboard  the 
vessel,  stowed  it  all  carefully  beneath  the  benches,  so 
that  it  might  not  incommode  the  crew  upon  the  pas- 
sage while  they  labored  at  the  oars.  Then  to  Alci- 
noiis' house  they  went  and  turned  to  feasting. 

In  their  behalf  revered  Alcinoiis  offered  an  ox  to 
Zeus  of  the  dark  cloud,  the  son  of  Kronos,  who  is  the 


200  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XIII.  26-58. 

lord  of  all  ;  and  having  burned  the  thighs,  they  held 
a  glorious  feast  and  made  them  merry.  Among  them 
sang  the  sacred  bard,  Demodocus,  beloved  of  all. 
Nevertheless  Odysseus  would  often  turn  his  face  to- 
ward the  still  shining  sun,  eager  to  see  its  setting,  be- 
cause he  was  impatient  to  be  gone.  As  a  man  longs 
for  supper  whose  pair  of  tawny  oxen  all  day  long  have 
dragged  the  jointed  plough  through  the  fresh  field  ; 
gladly  for  him  the  sunlight  sinks  and  sends  him  home 
to  supper  ;  stiff  are  his  knees  for  walking ;  so  gladly 
for  Odysseus  sank  the  sun.  Straightway  he  turned 
to  the  oar-loving  Phaeacians,  and  speaking  to  Alcinoiis 
especially  he  said  :  . 

"  Mighty  Alcinoiis,  renowned  of  all,  pour  a  libation 
and  send  me  safely  forth.  Fare  you  all  well !  All 
that  my  heart  desired  is  ready  —  escort  and  friendly 
gifts  —  and  may  the  gods  of  heaven  make  them  a 
blessing !  My  true  wife  may  I  find  on  coming  home, 
and  dear  ones  safe !  And  you  who  stay,  may  you 
make  glad  your  wedded  wives  and  children!  The 
gods  bestow  all  happiness,  and  may  no  ill  be  found 
among  you !  " 

He  spoke,  and  all  approved  and  bade  send  forth  the 
stranger,  for  rightly  had  he  spoken.  Then  said  re- 
vered Alcinoiis  to  the  page  :  "  Pontonoiis,  mix  a  bowl 
and  pass  the  wine  to  all  within  the  hall,  that  with  a 
prayer  to  father  Zeus  we  may  send  forth  the  stranger 
to  his  native  land." 

He  spoke ;  Pontonoiis  stirred  the  cheering  wine  and 
served  to  all  in  turn ;  then  to  the  blessed  gods  who 
hold  the  open  sky  they  poured  libations  where  they 
sat.  But  royal  Odysseus  rose,  placed  in  Arete's 
hand  the  double  cup,  and  speaking  in  winged  words 
lie  said : 


XIII.  59-92.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  201 

"  Fare  you  well,  queen,  for  all  the  years  until  old 
age  and  death,  which  visit  all,  shall  come.  I  go  my 
way  ;  may  you  within  this  home  enjoy  your  children, 
people,  and  Alcinoiis  the  king  !  ' 

So  saying,  royal  Odysseus  crossed  the  threshold. 
With  him  revered  Alcinoiis  sent  a  page,  to  show  the 
way  to  the  swift  ship  and  to  the  shore.  Arete  too 
sent  damsels  after  :  one  with  the  spotless  robe  and 
tunic,  one  to  accompany  the  close-packed  chest,  and 
one  bore  bread  and  ruddy  wine. 

Now  when  they  came  to  the  ship  and  to  the  sea, 
straight  the  tall  seamen  took  the  stores  and  laid  them 
by  within  the  hollow  ship,  even  all  the  food  and  drink. 
Then  for  Odysseus  they  spread  a  rug  and  linen  sheet 
on  the  hollow  vessel's  deck,  so  that  he  might  sleep 
soundlv,  there  at  the  stern  ;  and  he  himself  embarked 
and  laid  him  down  in  silence.  The  other  men  took 
places  at  the  pins,  each  one  in  order,  and  loosed  the 
cable  from  the  perforated  stone.  But  now  when  bend- 
ing to  their  work  they  tossed  the  water  with  their  oars, 
upon  Odysseus'  lids  deep  slumber  fell,  sound  and  most 
pleasant,  very  like  to  death.  And  as  upon  a  plain 
four  harnessed  stallions  spring  forward  all  together 
at  the  crack  of  whip,  and  lifting  high  their  feet  speed 
swiftly  on  their  way  ;  even  so  the  ship's  stern  lifted, 
while  in  her  wake  followed  a  huge  upheaving  wave  of 
the  resounding  sea.  Safely  and  steadily  she  ran  ;  no 
circling  hawk,  swiftest  of  winged  things,  could  keep 
beside  her.  Running  thus  rapidly  she  cut  the  ocean 
waves,  bearing  a  man  of  godlike  wisdom,  a  man  who 
had  before  met  many  griefs  of  heart,  cleaving  his 
way  through  wars  of  men  and  through  the  boisterous 
seas,  yet  here  slept  undisturbed,  heedless  of  all  he 
suffered. 


202  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XIII.  93-127. 

As  that  most  brilliant  star  arose  which  comes  the 
surest  herald  of  the  light  of  early  dawn,  the  sea-borne 
ship  drew  near  the  island. 

Now  in  the  land  of  Ithaca  there  is  a  certain  harbor 
sacred  to  Phorcys,  the  old  man  of  the  sea.  Here  two 
projecting  jagged  cliffs  slope  inward  toward  the  harbor 
and  break  the  heavy  waves  raised  by  wild  winds  with- 
out. Inside,  without  a  cable  ride  the  well-benched 
ships  when  once  they  reach  the  roadstead.  Just  at  the 
harbor's  head  a  leafy  olive  stands,  and  near  it  a  pleas- 
ant darksome  cave  sacred  to  nymphs,  called  Naiads. 
Within  the  cave  are  bowls  and  jars  of  stone,  and  here 
bees  hive  their  honey.  Long  looms  of  stone  are  here, 
where  nymphs  weave  purple  robes,  a  marvel  to  behold. 
Here  are  ever-flowing  springs.  The  cave  has  double 
doors  :  one  to  the  north,  accessible  to  men  ;  one  to  the 
south,  for  gods.  By  this,  men  do  not  pass  ;  it  is  the 
immortals'  entrance. 

Here  they  rowed  in,  knowing  the  place  of  old.  The 
ship  ran  up  the  shore  full  half  her  length,  by  rea- 
son of  her  speed  ;  so  was  she  driven  by  her  rowers' 
arms.  The  men  then  left  the  timbered  ship  and  came 
ashore,  and  straightway  took  Odysseus  from  the  hol- 
low ship  —  him  and  his  linen  sheet  and  bright-hued 
rug  —  and  set  him  on  the  sands,  still  sunk  in  sleep. 
They  also  brought  the  treasure  out  which  the  Phaeacian 
chiefs  gave  him  at  his  departure,  prompted  by  kind 
Athene,  and  laid  it  all  together  by  the  olive  trunk  a 
little  off  the  road  ;  for  fear,  before  Odysseus  woke, 
some  passer-by  might  come  and  harm  it.  Then  they 
departed  homeward.  Nevertheless  the  Earth-shaker 
did  not  forget  the  threats  with  which  at  first  he  threat- 
ened great  Odysseus,  but  thus  he  asked  the  purposes 
of  Zeus  : 


XIII.  128-158.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  203 

"  O  father  Zeus,  no  more  shall  I  be  honored  among 
immortal  gods  if  mortal  men,  the  people  of  Phaeacia, 
honor  me  not,  though  men  of  mv  own  kin.  For  I  had 
meant  that  through  much  hardship  Odysseus  should 
return  ;  I  never  tried  to  cut  him  off  from  coming  al- 
together, because  you  gave  him  once  a  promise  and 
confirmed  it  with  a  nod.  Yet  these  Phaeacians  have 
borne  him  through  the  sea  on  their  swift  ship  asleep, 
and  set  him  down  in  Ithaca,  and  given  him  glorious 
gifts  —  such  stores  of  bronze  and  gold  and  woven  stuffs 
as  Odysseus  never  would  have  won  from  Troy  itself, 
had  he  returned  unharmed  with  his  due  share  of 
spoil. 

Then  answered  him  cloud-o-atherimr  Zeus  and  said  : 
"  For  shame,  wide-ruling  Land-shaker !  What  are  you 
saying  ?  The  gods  do  not  refuse  you  honor.  Hard 
would  it  be  to  cast  dishonor  on  our  oldest  and  our 
best.  And  as  to  men,  if  any,  led  by  pride  and  power, 
dishonors  you,  vengeance  is  yours  and  shall  be  ever. 
Do  what  you  will,  even  all  your  heart's  desire  !  ' 

Then  earth  -  shaking  Poseidon  answered  :  "  Soon 
would  I  do,  dark-clouded  one,  all  that  you  say,  but 
that  I  ever  dread  and  would  avoid  your  wrath.  Even 
now  this  shapely  ship  of  the  Phaeacians,  returning 
home  from  pilotage  upon  the  misty  sea,  I  would  de- 
stroy, —  that  they  henceforth  may  hold  aloof  and  cease 
to  give  men  aid,  —  and  I  would  throw  a  lofty  mound 
about  their  city." 

Then  answered  him  cloud-gathering  Zeus  and  said  : 
"  Friend,  this  appears  to  me  the  tetter  way.  When 
all  the  people  of  the  town  look  off  and  see  her  sailing, 
then  turn  her  into  stone  close  to  the  shore,  —  yet  like 
a  swift  ship  still,  —  that  all  the  folk  may  marvel, 
and  throw  a  lofty  mound  about  their  city." 


204  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XIII.  159-191. 

On  hearing  this,  earth-shaking  Poseidon  hastened 
to  Scheria,  where  the  Phaeacians  live,  and  waited 
there.  Then  as  the  sea-borne  ship  drew  near,  run- 
ning full  swiftly,  the  Earth-shaker  drew  near  her  too, 
turned  her  to  stone  and  rooted  her  to  the  bottom, 
forcing  her  under  with  his  outspread  hand,  and  went 
away ;  but  in  winged  words  to  one  another  talked  the 
Phaeacian  oarsmen,  notable  men  at  sea.  And  glan- 
cing at  his  neighbor  a  Phaeacian  man  would  say  : 

"  Hah !  Who  stopped  the  swift  ship  on  the  sea  as 
she  was  running  in  ?     In  full  sight  too  she  was." 

So  they  would  say,  but  knew  not  how  things  were. 
And  now  Alcinoiis  addressed  them,  thus  :  "  Ah,  surely 
then  the  ancient  oracles  are  come  to  pass,  told  by  my 
father,  who  said  Poseidon  was  displeased  because  we 
were  safe  guides  for  all  mankind  ;  and  he  averred  the 
god  one  day  would  wreck  a  shapely  ship  of  the  Phaea- 
cians, returning  home  from  pilotage  upon  the  misty 
sea,  and  so  would  throw  a  lofty  mound  about  our  city. 
That  was  the  old  man's  tale,  and  now  it  all  comes 
true.  However,  what  I  say  let  us  all  follow:  stop 
piloting  the  men  who  come  from  time  to  time  here  to 
our  city  ;  and  to  Poseidon  let  us  offer  twelve  choice 
bulls,  that  he  may  have  compassion  and  so  not  throw 
a  lofty  mound  about  our  city." 

He  spoke,  and  all  the  people  feared  and  brought 
the  bulls.  And  then  to  lord  Poseidon,  standing 
around  his  altar,  the  captains  and  councilors  of  the 
Phaeacians  offered  prayer. 

Meanwhile  within  his  native  land  royal  Cktysseus 
woke  from  sleep,  and  did  not  know  the  land  from 
which  he  had  been  gone  so  long  ;  for  a  goddess  spread 
a  cloud  around,  even  Pallas  Athene,  daughter  of  Zeus, 
that  she  might  render  him  unknown  and  herself  tell 


XIII.  192-225.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  205 

him  all,  and  that  his  wife,  his  townsfolk,  and  his 
friends  might  never  know  him  until  the  suitors  paid 
the  price  of  all  their  lawless  deeds.  Thus  to  its  mas- 
ter all  the  land  looked  strange,  —  the  footpaths 
stretching  far  away,  the  sheltered  coves,  steep  rocks, 
and  spreading  trees.  Rising,  he  stood  and  gazed 
upon  his  land,  then  groaned  and  smote  his  thighs 
with  outspread  hands,  saying  in  anguish : 

"  Alas !  To  what  men's  land  am  I  come  now  ? 
Lawless  and  savage  are  they,  with  no  regard  for  right, 
or  are  they  kind  to  strangers  and  reverent  toward  the 
gods  ?  Where  shall  I  leave  my  many  goods,  and 
whither  shall  I  turn  ?  Would  these  had  staid  with 
the  Phaeacians  where  they  were,  and  I  myself  had 
found  some  other  powerful  prince  who  might  have 
entertained  me  and  sent  me  on  my  way  !  Now,  where 
to  store  my  goods  I  do  not  know  ;  yet  here  I  must 
not  leave  them,  to  fall  a  prey  to  strangers.  Not  at 
all  wise  and  just  were  the  Phaeacian  captains  and 
councilors  in  bringing  me  to  this  strange  shore. 
They  promised  they  would  carry  me  to  far-seen  Ithaca, 
but  that  they  did  not  do.  May  Zeus,  the  god  of  sup- 
pliants, reward  them !  For  over  all  men  watches 
Zeus,  chastising  those  who  sin.  However,  let  me 
count  my  goods,  and  see  that  the  Phaeacians  took 
none  away  upon  their  hollow  ship." 

So  saying,  he  counted  the  beautiful  tripods,  the 
caldrons,  gold,  and  goodly  woven  stuffs,  and  none 
was  lacking.  Then  sighing  for  his  native  land  he 
paced  the  shore  of  the  resounding  sea  in  sadness. 
Near  him  Athene  drew,  in  form  of  a  young  shepherd, 
yet  delicate  as  are  the  sons  of  kings.  Doubled  about 
her  shoulders  she  wore  a  fine-wrought  mantle  ;  under 
her  shining  feet  her  sandals,  and  in  her  hand  a  spear. 


206  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XIII.  226-260. 

To  see  her  made  Odysseus  glad.  He  went  to  meet 
her,  and  speaking  in  winged  words  he  said  : 

ik  Friend,  since  you  are  the  first  I  find  within  this 
land,  I  bid  you  welcome,  and  hope  you  come  with  no 
ill-will.  Nay,  save  these  goods  and  save  me  too !  I 
supplicate  you  as  a  god,  and  I  approach  your  knees. 
And  tell  me  truly  this,  that  I  may  know  full  well, 
what  land  is  this  ?  What  people  ?  What  sort  of 
men  dwell  here  ?  Is  it  a  far-seen  island,  or  a  tongue 
of  fertile  mainland  that  stretches  out  to  sea  ?  " 

Then  said  to  him  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene  : 
"  You  are  simple,  stranger,  or  come  from  far  away,  to 
ask  about  this  land.  It  is  not  quite  so  nameless. 
Many  men  know  it  well,  men  dwelling  toward  the  east 
and  rising  sun,  and  those  behind  us  also  toward  the 
darksome  west.  It  is  a  rugged  land,  not  fit  for  driv- 
ing horses,  yet  not  so  very  poor  though  lacking  plains. 
Grain  grows  abundantly  and  wine  as  well ;  the  show- 
ers are  frequent  and  the  dews  refreshing  ;  here  is  good 
pasturage  for  goats  and  cattle ;  trees  of  all  kinds  are 
here,  and  never  -  failing  springs.  So,  stranger,  the 
name  of  Ithaca  has  gone  as  far  as  Troy,  which  is,  they 
say,  a  long  way  from  Achaea." 

She  spoke,  and  glad  was  long-tried  royal  Odysseus, 
filled  with  delight  over  his  native  land  through  what 
was  said  by  Pallas  Athene,  daughter  of  aegis-bearing 
Zeus  ;  and  speaking  in  winged  words  he  said,  —  yet 
uttered  not  the  truth,  but  turned  his  words  awry,  ever 
revolving  in  his  breast  some  gainful  purpose  : 

"  In  lowland  Crete,  I  heard  of  Ithaca  far  off  be- 
yond the  sea,  and  now  I  reach  it  — I  and  these 
goods  of  mine.  I  left  an  equal  portion  to  my  children 
and  fled  away  from  home ;  for  I  had  killed  the  dear 
son  of  Idomeneus,  Orsilochus,  the  runner,  who  on  the 


*XDL  261-292.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  207 

plains  of  Crete  beat  all  us  toiling  men  in  speed  of 
foot.  The  cause  was  this  :  he  sought  to  cut  me  off 
from  all  the  Trojan  spoil  to  gain  which  I  bore  grief 
of  heart,  cleaving  my  way  through  wars  of  men  and 
through  the  boisterous  seas ;  and  all  because  I  did 
not,  as  he  wished,  serve  with  his  father  in  the  land  of 
Troy,  but  led  my  separate  men.  With  a  brazen  spear 
I  struck  him  as  he  was  coming  from  his  farm  and  I 
was  lying  with  a  comrade  near  the  road.  A  very  dark 
night  screened  the  sky  ;  no  man  observed  us ;  secretly 
I  took  his  life.  So  after  I  had  slain  him  with  my 
brazen  pointed  spear,  I  straightway  sought  a  ship, 
asked  aid  of  the  proud  Phoenicians,  and  gave  theni 
from  my  booty  what  they  wished.  I  bade  them  take 
me  on  their  ship  and  set  me  down  at  Pylos,  or  else  at 
sacred  Elis  where  the  Epeians  rule.  But  stress  of 
wind  turned  them  aside,  though  much  against  their 
will ;  they  meant  no  wrong  ;  and  missing  our  course, 
here  we  arrived  last  night.  With  much  ado  we  rowed 
into  the  port,  and  gave  no  thought  to  supper,  hungry 
although  we  were,  but  simply  disembarking  from  the 
ship,  we  all  lay  down.  Then,  weary  as  I  was,  sweet 
sleep  came  on  me ;  and  the  Phoenicians,  taking  my 
treasure  from  the  hollow  ship,  laid  it  upon  the  sands 
where  I  was  lying,  and  they  embarked  and  sailed  away 
to  stately  Sidon.  So  I  was  left  behind  with  aching 
heart." 

As  he  thus  spoke,  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene, 
smiled  and  patted  him  with  her  hand.  Her  form 
grew  like  a  woman's,  —  one  fair  and  tall  and  skilled 
in  dainty  work,  —  and  speaking  in  winged  words  she 
said  : 

"  Prudent  and  wily  must  one  be  to  overreach  you 
in  craft  of  any  kind,  even  though  it  be   a  god  who 


208  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XIII.  293-326. 

strives  to  match  you.  Bold,  shifty,  and  insatiate  of 
wiles,  will  you  not  now  within  your  land  cease  from 
the  false  misleading  tales  which  from  the  bottom  of 
your  heart  you  love  ?  But  let  us  talk  no  longer  thus, 
both  being  versed  in  wiles ;  for  you  are  far  the  best 
of  men  in  plots  and  tales,  and  I  of  all  the  gods  am 
famed  for  craft  and  wiles.  And  yet  you  did  not 
know  me,  Pallas  Athene,  daughter  of  Zeus,  me  who 
am  ever  near  to  guard  you  in  all  toil,  me  who  have 
made  you  welcome  to  all  Phaeacian  folk  !  Now  I  am 
come  to  frame  with  you  a  scheme  to  hide  the  treasure 
which  the  Phaeacian  chiefs,  through  my  advice  and 
prompting,  gave  you  at  your  departure  ;  and  I  will 
tell  you  too  what  griefs  you  must  endure  within  your 
stately  house.  Bear  them,  because  you  must.  Do  not 
report  to  man  or  woman  of  them  all  that  you  are 
come  from  wandering  ;  but  silently  receive  all  pains 
and  bear  men's  buffets." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said  :  "  Hard 
is  it,  goddess,  for  a  man,  however  wise  he  be,  to  know 
when  you  are  near,  because  you  take  all  forms.  I 
very  well  remember  how  kind  to  me  you  were  when 
all  we  young  Achaean  s  were  in  the  war  at  Troy.  But 
since  we  overthrew  the  lofty  town  of  Priam,  since  we 
went  away  in  ships  and  God  dispersed  the  Achaeans,  I 
never  once  have  seen  you,  daughter  of  Zeus,  nor  known 
you  to  draw  near  my  ship  protecting  me  from  harm. 
Yet  bearing  ever  in  my  breast  a  stricken  heart,  I  wan- 
dered till  the  gods  delivered  me  from  ill,  when  in  the 
rich  land  of  the  Phaeacians  you  cheered  me  by  your 
words  and  led  me  to  the  city.  Now  I  entreat  you 
by  your  father's  name,  for  I  cannot  think  that  I  am 
come  to  far-seen  Ithaca.  No,  I  have  strayed  to  some 
strange  shore,  and  you  in  mockery,  I  think,  have  told 


XIII.  327-360.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  209 

this  tale   to   cheat   me.     But  tell  me,   have  I  really 
reached  my  own  dear  land  ?  ' 

Then  answered  hiin  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene  : 
"  Such  thoughts  as  these  are  ever  in  your  breast ; 
therefore  I  cannot  leave  you  even  in  misfortune,  be- 
cause you  are  discreet,  wary,  and  steadfast.  For  any 
other  man  on  coming  back  from  wanderings  would 
eagerly  have  hastened  home  to  see  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren ;  but  you  have  no  desire  to  know  or  hear  of  them 
till  you  have  proved  your  wife,  who  as  of  old  sits  in 
your  hall  and  wearily  the  nights  and  days  are  wasted 
with  her  tears.  But  I  for  my  part  never  doubted.  I 
knew  within  my  heart  that  you  would  come,  though 
with  the  loss  of  all  your  men.  But  I  did  not  wish  to 
quarrel  with  Poseidon,  my  father's  brother,  who  bore 
a  grudge  against  you  in  his  heart,  angry  because  you 
blinded  his  dear  son.  Come  then,  and  let  me  point 
you  out  the  parts  of  Ithaca,  that  so  you  may  believe. 
Here  is  the  port  of  Phorcys,  the  old  man  of  the  sea ; 
here  at  the  harbor's  head  the  leafy  olive  ;  and  near 
at  hand  the  pleasant  darksome  cave,  sacred  to  nymphs 
called  Naiads ;  here  is  the  arching  cavern  too,  where 
oftentimes  you  made  due  sacrifices  to  the  nymphs ; 
and  this  is  the  wood-clad  hill  of  Neriton." 

The  goddess,  speaking  thus,  scattered  the  cloud,  and 
plain  the  land  appeared.  Then  glad  was  long- tried 
royal  Odysseus,  and  he  exulted  in  his  land  and  kissed 
the  bounteous  earth,  and  straightway  prayed  the 
nymphs  with  outstretched  hands  : 

"  O  Naiad  Nymphs,  daughters  of  Zeus,  I  said  I 
should  not  see  you  any  more,  yet  now  with  loving 
prayers  I  give  you  greeting.  Gifts  will  we  also  give, 
even  as  of  old,  if  the  daughter  of  Zeus,  the  Plunderer, 
graciously  grants  me  life  and  prospers  my  dear  son." 


210  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XIII.  361-393. 

Then  said  to  him  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene  : 
"  Be  of  good  courage  !  Let  not  these  things  vex  your 
mind  !  But  in  a  corner  of  the  monstrous  cave  let  us 
lay  by  the  goods,  instantly,  now,  here  to  remain  in 
safety ;  then  let  us  plan  how  all  may  turn  out  well." 

So  saying,  the  goddess  entered  the  darksome  cave, 
and  searched  about  the  cave  for  hiding-places.  Odys- 
seus too  brought  hither  all  he  had,  gold  and  enduring 
bronze  and  fair-wrought  raiment,  things  given  by  the 
Phaeacians.  All  these  were  laid  away  with  care,  and 
at  the  entrance  a  stone  was  set  by  Pallas  Athene, 
daughter  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus.  Then  sitting  down  at 
the  foot  of  the  sacred  olive,  they  planned  the  death  of 
the  audacious  suitors;  and  thus  began  the  goddess, 
clear-eyed  Athene : 

"  High-born  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus,  con- 
sider how  to  lay  hands  on  the  shameless  suitors,  who 
for  three  years  have  held  dominion  in  your  hall,  wooing 
your  matchless  wife  and  offering  bridal  gifts ;  while 
she,  continually  mourning  at  heart  over  your  coming, 
gives  hopes  to  all,  has  promises  for  each,  and  sends 
each  messages;  but  her  mind  has  a  different  purpose." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said  :  "  Cer- 
tainly here  at  home  I  too  had  met  the  evil  fate  of  Aga- 
memnon, the  son  of  Atreus,  had  you  not,  goddess,  duly 
told  me  all.  Come  then,  and  frame  a  plot  for  me  to 
win  revenge.  And  do  you  stand  beside  me,  inspiring 
hardy  courage,  even  so  as  when  we  tore  the  shining 
crown  from  Troy.  If  you  would  stand  as  stoutly  by 
me,  clear-e}red  one,  then  I  would  face  three  hundred 
men,  mated  with  you,  dread  goddess,  with  you  for  my 
strong  aid." 

Then  answered  him  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene  : 
"  I  surely  will  be  with  you ;  you  shall  never  be  forgot 


XIII.  394-428.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  211 

when  we  begin  the  work.  Some  too,  I  think,  shall 
spatter  with  their  blood  and  brains  the  spacious  floor, 
some  of  these  suitors  who  devour  your  living".  But  let 
me  make  you  strange  to  all  men's  view.  I  will  shrivel 
the  fair  flesh  on  your  supple  limbs,  pluck  from  your 
head  the  yellow  locks,  and  clothe  you  in  such  rags 
that  they  who  see  shall  loathe  the  wearer.  And  I 
will  blear  your  eyes,  so  beautiful  before,  that  you  may 
seem  repulsive  to  all  the  suitors  here,  and  even  to 
your  wife  and  the  son  you  left  at  home.  But  first 
seek  out  the  swineherd,  the  keeper  of  your  swine  ;  for 
he  is  loyal,  loving  your  son  and  steadfast  Penelope. 
You  will  find  him  sitting  by  his  swine.  They  feed 
along  the  Raven  Crag  by  the  spring  of  Arethusa, 
eating  the  pleasant  acorns  and  drinking  the  shaded 
water,  a  food  which  breeds  abundant  fat  in  swine. 
There  wait,  and  sitting  by  his  side  question  him 
fully ;  while  I  go  on  to  Sparta,  the  land  of  lovely 
women,  to  summon  thence  Telemachus,  your  son, 
Odysseus.  He  went  to  spacious  Lacedaemon  to  visit 
Menelaus,  hoping  to  learn  if  you  were  still  alive." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said  : 
"Why,  knowing  all,  did  you  yourself  not  tell  him? 
Must  he  too  meet  with  sorrow,  roaming  the  barren 
sea,  while  others  eat  his  Substance  ?  " 

Then  answered  him  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene : 
"  Nay,  let  him  not  too  much  oppress  your  heart.  I 
was  myself  his  guide,  and  helped  him  win  a  noble  name 
by  going  thither.  He  meets  no  hardship  there,  but 
sits  at  ease  within  the  palace  of  the  son  of  Atreus, 
with  plenty  all  around.  Young  men,  indeed,  now  lie 
in  wait  on  their  black  ship  and  seek  to  cut  him  off 
before  he  gains  his  native  land.  Yet  this  I  think 
shall  never  be  ;  rather  the  earth  shall  cover  some  of 
the  suitors  who  devour  your  living." 


212  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XIII.  429-440. 

So  having  said,  Athene  touched  him  with  her  wand, 
shriveled,  the  fair  flesh  on  his  supple  limbs,  plucked 
from  his  head,  the  yellow  locks,  and  made  the  skin  of 
all  his  limbs  the  skin  of  an  old  man.  Likewise  she 
bleared  his  eyes,  so  beautiful  before,  and  gave  him  for 
his  clothing  a  wretched  frock  and  tunic,  tattered  and 
foid  and  grimed  with  filthy  smoke.  Then  over  all  she 
threw  a  swift  deer's  ample  hide,  stripped  of  its  hair ; 
and  gave  him  a  staff  and  miserable  wallet,  full  of  holes, 
which  hung  upon  a  cord. 

So  having  formed  their  plans,  they  parted  ;  and 
thereupon  the  goddess  went  to  sacred  Lacedaemon, 
seeking  Odysseus'  son. 


XIV. 

THE   STAY   WITH   EUMAEUS. 

But  from  the  harbor,  up  the  rocky  path,  along  the 
woody  country  on  the  hills,  Odysseus  went  to  where 
Athene  bade  him  seek  the  noble  swineherd,  who 
guarded  his  estate  more  carefully  than  any  man  royal 
Odysseus  owned. 

He  found  him  sitting  in  his  porch,  by  which  was 
built  a  high-walled  yard  upon  commanding  ground, 
a  handsome  yard  and  large,  with  space  around. 
With  his  own  hands  the  swineherd  built  it  for  the 
swine  after  his  lord  was  gone,  without  assistance 
from  the  queen  or  old  Laertes,  constructing  it  with 
blocks  of  stone  and  coping  it  with  thorn.  Outside 
the  yard  he  drove  down  stakes  the  whole  way  round, 
stout  and  close-set,  of  split  black  oak.  Inside  the 
yard  he  made  twelve  sties  alongside  one  another, 
as  bedding  places  for  the  swine  ;  and  fifty  swine  that 
wallow  in  the  mire  were  penned  in  each,  all  of  them 
sows  for  breeding ;  the  boars,  much  fewer,  lay  out- 
side. On  these  the  gallant  suitors  feasted  and  kept 
their  number  small ;  for  daily  the  swineherd  sent 
away  the  best  fat  hog  he  had.  Three  hundred  and 
sixty  they  were  now.  Hard  by,  four  dogs,  like  wild 
beasts,  always  lay,  dogs  which  the  swineherd  bred, 
the  overseer.  He  was  himself  now  fitting  sandals 
to  his  feet,  cutting  therefor  a  well-tanned  hide.  The 
other  men  were  gone  their  several  ways :  three  with 


214  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XIV.  26-56. 

the  swine  to  pasture  ;  a  fourth  sent  to  the  town  to 
take  to  the  audacious  suitors,  as  was  ordered,  a  hog 
to  slay  and  sate  their  souls  with  meat. 

But  now  the  ever-barking  dogs  suddenly  spied  Odys- 
seus, and  baying  rushed  upon  him ;  whereat  Odys- 
seus calmly  sat  down  and  from  his  hand  let  fall  his 
staff.  Yet  here  at  his  own  farm  he  would  have  come 
to  cruel  grief,  had  not  the  swineherd,  springing  swiftly 
after,  dashed  from  the  door  and  from  his  hand  let  fall 
the  leather.  Scolding  the  dogs,  he  drove  them  off  this 
way  and  that  with  showers  of  stones,  and  thus  ad- 
dressed his  master  : 

"  Old  man,  my  dogs  had  nearly  torn  you  to  pieces 
here  all  of  a  sudden,  and  so  you  would  have  brought 
reproach  on  me.  Ah  well !  The  gods  have  given 
me  other  griefs  and  sorrows  ;  for  over  my  matchless 
master  I  sit  and  sigh  and  groan,  and  tend  fat  hogs  for 
other  men  to  eat ;  while  he,  perhaps  longing  for  food, 
wanders  about  the  lands  and  towns  of  men  of  alien 
speech,  —  if  he  still  lives  and  sees  the  sunshine.  But 
follow  me,  old  man,  into  the  lodge ;  so  that  you  too, 
when  satisfied  with  food  and  drink,  may  tell  where 
you  are  come  from  and  what  troubles  you  have  borne." 

So  saying,  to  the  lodge  the  noble  swineherd  led  the 
way,  and  bringing  Odysseus  in  made  him  a  seat.  Be- 
neath, he  laid  thick  brushwood,  and  on  the  top  he 
spread  a  shaggy  wild  goat's  great  soft  skin,  his  usual 
bed.  Odysseus  was  pleased  that  he  received  him  so, 
and  spoke  and  thus  addressed  him  : 

"  Stranger,  may  Zeus  and  the  other  deathless  gods 
grant  all  you  most  desire  for  treating  me  so  kindly  ! ' 

And,  swineherd  Eumaeus,  you  answered  him  and 
said :  "  Stranger,  it  is  not  right  for  me  to  slight  a 
stranger,  not  even  one  in  poorer  plight  than  you ;  for 


XIV.  57-88.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  215 

in  the  charge  of  Zeus  all  strangers  and  beggars  stand, 
and  our  small  gift  is  welcome.  But  so  it  is  with  ser- 
vants, continually  afraid  when  new  men  are  their  mas- 
ters !  Surely  the  gods  kept  him  from  coming  who 
would  have  loved  me  well  and  given  me  for  my  own 
the  things  a  generous  master  always  allows  his  man  — 
a  house,  a  plot  of  ground,  and  a  fair  wife  —  at  least 
when  one  has  labored  long,  and  God  has  made  his 
work  to  prosper,  as  he  makes  prosper  all  the  work  I 
undertake.  So  would  my  master  have  well  rewarded 
me,  had  he  but  grown  old  here.  But  he  is  gone  ! 
Would  all  the  tribe  of  Helen  had  gone  too,  down 
on  their  knees !  for  she  has  made  the  knees  of  many 
men  grow  weak.  Yes,  he  too  went  for  Agamemnon's 
honor  to  Ilios,  famed  for  horses,  to  fight  the  Trojans 
there." 

So  saying,  he  hurriedly  girt  his  tunic  with  his  belt, 
and  went  to  the  sties  where  droves  of  pigs  were 
penned.  Selecting  two,  he  brought  them  in  and 
killed  them  both,  singed  them  and  sliced  them  and 
stuck  them  on  the  spits,  and  roasting  carried  all  the 
meat  to  offer  to  Odysseus,  hot  on  the  spits  themselves. 
He  sprinkled  it  with  white  barley.  Then  in  an  ivy 
bowl  he  mixed  some  honeyed  wine,  and  taking  a  seat 
over  against  Odysseus  thus  cheerily  began : 

"  Now,  stranger,  eat  what  servants  have,  this  young 
pig's  flesh.  The  fatted  hogs  are  eaten  by  the  suitors, 
who  heed  not  in  their  hearts  the  wrath  of  Heaven,  nor 
even  pity.  Yet  reckless  deeds  the  blessed  gods  love 
not ;  they  honor  justice  and  men's  upright  deeds. 
Why,  evil-minded  cruel  men  who  land  on  a  foreign 
shore,  and  Zeus  allows  them  plunder  so  that  they  sail 
back  home  with  well-filled  ships,  —  even  on  the  hearts 
of  such  falls  a  great  fear  of  heavenly  wrath.    But  these 


216  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XIV.  89-120. 

men  know  of  something,  having  heard  the  utterance 
of  some  god  about  his  mournful  end,  and  therefore 
they  are  minded  to  woo  so  lawlessly,  never  depart- 
ing to  their  homes,  but  at  their  ease  wasting  this 
wealth  with  recklessness  and  sparing  naught.  For 
every  day  and  night  sent  us  by  Zeus,  they  slay  their 
victims,  no  mere  one  or  two  ;  and  wine  they  also  waste 
with  reckless  draughts.  Odysseus'  means  were  vast. 
No  noble  has  so  much  on  the  dark  mainland  or  in 
Ithaca  itself.  No  twenty  men  together  have  such 
revenues  as  he.  I  will  reckon  up  the  sum.  Twelve 
herds  upon  the  mainland ;  as  many  flocks  of  sheep  ; 
as  many  droves  of  swine ;  as  many  roving  bands  of 
goats ;  all  shepherded  by  foreigners  and  herdsmen  of 
his  own.  Then  here  in  Ithaca  graze  roving  bands  of 
goats,  eleven  in  all,  along  the  farther  shore,  and  trusty 
herdsmen  watch  them.  Of  these  the  herdsman  every 
day  drives  up  the  fatted  goat  that  seems  the  best.  My 
task  it  is  to  guard  and  keep  these  swine,  and  picking 
carefully  the  best  to  send  it  to  the  suitors." 

So  spoke  the  swineherd,  while  his  companion  hun- 
grily ate  his  meat  and  drank  with  eagerness  his  wine 
in  silence,  sowing  the  seeds  of  evil  for  the  suitors. 
But  after  he  had  dined  and  stayed  his  heart  with 
food,  Eumaeus,  filling  for  his  guest  the  cup  from 
which  he  drank,  gave  it  brimful  of  wine.  Odysseus 
took  it  and  was  glad  at  heart,  and  speaking  in  winged 
words  he  said : 

"  My  friend,  who  was  the  man  that  bought  you 
with  his  wealth  and  was  so  very  rich  and  powerful  as 
you  say  ?  You  said  he  died  for  Agamemnon's  honor. 
Tell  me.  I  may  have  known  some  such  as  he.  Zeus 
and  the  other  deathless  gods  must  know  if  I  have  seen 
him  and  can  give  you  news ;  but  I  have  traveled  far." 


XIV.  121-153.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  217 

Then  said  to  him  the  swineherd,  the  overseer : 
"  Old  man,  no  traveler  coming  here  to  tell  of  him 
could  win  his  wife  or  son  to  trust  the  story.  Lightly 
do  vagrants  seeking  hospitality  tell  lies,  and  never 
care  to  speak  the  truth.  So  when  a  vagabond  reaches 
the  land  of  Ithaca,  he  comes  and  chatters  cheating 
stories  to  my  queen.  And  she  receives  him  well  and, 
giving  entertainment,  questions  him  closely,  while 
from  her  weeping  eyelids  trickle  tears  ;  for  that  is 
the  way  with  wives  when  husbands  die  afar.  You 
too,  old  man,  would  soon  be  patching  up  a  story  if 
somebody  would  give  you  clothes,  a  coat  and  tunic. 
But  probably  already  dogs  and  swift  birds  have 
plucked  the  flesh  from  off  his  bones  and  life  has  left 
him  ;  or  fishes  devoured  him  in  the  deep,  and  on  the 
land  his  bones  are  lying  wrapped  in  a  heap  of  sand. 
So  he  died,  far  away,  and  for  his  friends  sorrow  is  left 
behind  —  for  all  of  them,  and  most  of  all  for  me  ;  for 
never  another  such  kind  master  shall  I  find,  go  where 
I  may,  not  even  if  I  return  to  my  father's  and  mo- 
ther's house,  where  I  was  born  and  where  my  parents 
reared  me.  Yet  nowadays  for  them  I  do  not  greatly 
grieve,  much  as  I  wish  to  see  them  and  to  be  in  my 
own  land  ;  but  longing  possesses  me  for  lost  Odysseus. 
Why,  stranger,  though  he  is  not  here  I  speak  his 
name  with  awe  ;  for  he  was  very  kind  and  loved  me 
from  his  heart,  and  worshipful  I  call  him  even  when 
he  is  away." 

Then  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  answered  thus : 
"  Friend,  though  you  wholly  contradict  and  say  he  will 
not  come,  and  ever  unbelieving  is  your  heart,  yet  I 
declare,  not  with  mere  words  but  with  an  oath,  Odys- 
seus will  return.  Give  me  the  fee  for  welcome  news 
when  he  arrives  at  home.     Then  clothe  me  in  a  coat 


218  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XIV.  154-187. 

and  tunic,  goodly  garments.  Before  that  time,  how- 
ever great  my  need,  I  will  take  nothing  ;  for  hateful 
as  the  gates  of  hell  is  he  who  pressed  by  poverty  tells 
cheating  tales.  First  then  of  all  the  gods  be  witness 
Zeus,  and  let  this  hosjntable  table  and  the  hearth  of 
good  Odysseus  whereto  I  come  be  witness  :  all  this 
shall  be  accomplished  exactly  as  I  say.  This  very 
year  Odysseus  comes.  As  this  moon  wanes  and  as  the 
next  appears,  he  shall  return  and  punish  all  who 
wrong  his  wife  and  gallant  son." 

And,  swineherd  Eumaeus,  you  answered  him  and 
said :  "  Old  man,  I  never  then  shall  give  that  fee  for 
welcome  news,  nor  will  Od}'Sseus  reach  his  home. 
Nay,  drink  in  peace.  Let  us  turn  to  other  thoughts, 
and  do  not  bring  such  matters  to  remembrance.  Ah, 
my  heart  aches  within  when  one  recalls  my  honored 
master  !  As  for  the  oath,  why  let  it  be  ;  yet  may 
Odysseus  come,  as  I  desire  !  —  I  and  Penelope,  Laertes 
the  old  man,  and  prince  Telemachus.  But  now  I 
have  unceasing  grief  about  Odysseus'  child,  Telema- 
chus ;  whom  when  the  gods  had  made  to  grow  like  a 
young  sapling,  and  I  would  often  say  that  he  would 
stand  in  men's  esteem  no  whit  behind  his  father,  glo- 
rious in  form  and  beauty,  some  god  or  man  upset  the 
balanced  mind  within,  and  off  he  went  for  tidings  of 
his  father  to  hallowed  Pylos.  And  now  the  lordly  suit- 
ors watch  for  his  coming  home,  hoping  to  have  the  race 
of  prince  Arceisius  blotted  from  Ithaca  and  left  with- 
out a  name.  However,  let  us  leave  him  too,  whether 
he  falls  or  flies,  or  whether  the  son  of  Kronos  holds 
over  him  his  arm.  But  come,  old  man,  relate  to  me 
your  troubles  ;  and  tell  me  truly  this,  that  I  may 
know  full  well :  Who  are  you  ?  Of  what  people  ? 
Where  is  your  town  and  kindred  ?     On  what  ship 


XIV.  188-223.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  219 

did  you  come  ?  And  how  did  sailors  bring  you  to 
Ithaca  ?  Whom  did  they  call  themselves  ?  For  I  am 
sure  you  did  not  come  on  foot." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said: 
"  Well,  I  will  very  plainly  tell  you  this.  But  had  we 
in  the  lodge  food  and  sweet  wine  for  long,  and  should 
we  feast  in  quiet,  letting  others  do  our  work,  then 
might  I  easily  not  finish  in  a  year  the  tale  of  all  the 
toils  I  bore  by  the  gods'  bidding. 

"  Of  a  family  in  lowland  Crete  I  boast  that  I  was 
born,  a  rich  man's  son.  There  were  many  sons  be- 
side, born  and  brought  up  within  that  hall,  sons  of  a 
lawrful  wife.  Me  a  bought  mother  bore,  a  concubine  ; 
yet  he  gave  me  equal  honor  with  his  true-begotten 
sons,  this  Castor,  son  of  Hylax,  whose  child  I  say  I 
am.  Among  the  Cretans  he  was  at  this  time  honored 
throughout  the  land  as  if  he  were  a  god,  because  of  his 
prosperity,  his  wealth,  and  famous  sons  ;  but  death's 
doom  bore  him  to  the  house  of  Hades,  and  his  dis- 
dainful sons  divided  up  his  living,  casting  lots.  Me 
they  assigned  a  very  meagre  share,  besides  my  dwell- 
ing. Nevertheless,  I  took  to  wife  the  daughter  of 
a  wealthy  house,  winning  her  by  my  merit ;  because 
I  was  no  weakling  and  not  afraid  of  war.  Now  all 
is  gone.  Yet  still,  when  you  see  stubble  I  think  you 
know  the  grain ;  hardships  innumerable  have  pressed 
me  sore.  In  those  days  Ares  and  Athene  gave  me 
courage,  and  strength  to  break  the  line  ;  and  when  I 
picked  our  bravest  for  an  ambush,  sowing  the  seeds  of 
evil  for  our  foes,  my  swelling  heart  cast  not  a  look  on 
death ;  but  charging  ever  foremost,  I  would  catch  upon 
my  spear  whatever  foeman  showed  less  speed  than  I. 
Such  was  I  once  in  war  ;  labor  I  never  liked,  nor 
household  thrift,  which   breeds   good  children.      But 


220  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XIV.  224-258. 

ships  equipped  with  oars  were  ever  my  delight,  battles 
and  polished  javelins  and  arrows  —  appalling  things, 
which  are  to  others  hateful.  Whatever  God  put  in 
my  heart  I  liked  ;  for  different  men  delight  in  differ- 
ent deeds.  Before  the  young  Achaeans  went  to  Troy, 
nine  times  I  led  forth  men  and  sea-bound  ships  to 
plunder  foreign  tribes  ;  and  much  I  gained.  Out  of 
the  spoil  I  picked  what  pleased  me  and  then  obtained 
much  afterwards  by  lot.  Thus  rapidly  my  household 
grew,  and  I  became  a  man  of  weight  and  honor  with 
the  Cretans.  But  when  far-seeing  Zeus  ordained  the 
unhappj7-  journey  which  made  the  knees  of  many  men 
grow  weak,  they  called  on  me  and  famed  Idomeneus 
to  lead  the  ships  to  Ilios.  We  had  no  power  to  say 
them  nay ;  the  people's  voice  was  stern.  There  for 
nine  years  we  young  Achaeans  battled,  and  in  the 
tenth,  destroying  the  town  of  Priam,  turned  home- 
wards with  our  ships.  But  God  dispersed  the 
Achaeans  ;  especially  for  hapless  me  wise  Zeus  in- 
tended ill.  Only  a  month  I  stayed  at  home,  glad  in 
my  children,  in  my  wedded  wife  and  in  my  goods  ; 
and  then  my  heart  impelled  me  to  make  a  vo}Tage  to 
Egypt  with  gallant  comrades  and  with  ships  well 
fitted  out.  Nine  ships  I  fitted,  and  my  force  was 
gathered  soon. 

"  For  six  days  afterwards  my  trusty  comrades 
feasted,  and  I  provided  many  victims  to  offer  to  the 
gods  and  make  my  men  a  feast.  Embarking  on  the 
seventh,  we  sailed  from  lowland  Crete,  the  north  wind 
fresh  and  fair,  and  moved  off  easily  as  if  down  stream. 
No  ship  met  harm  ;  but  safe  and  sound  we  sat,  while 
wind  and  helmsmen  kept  us  steady.  In  five  days  we 
arrived  at  Egypt's  flowing  stream,  and  in  the  Egyptian 
river   I   anchored   my   curved    ships.     Then   to   my 


XIV.  259-291.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  221 

trusty  men  I  gave  command  to  stay  there  by  the  ships 
and  guard  the  ships,  while  I  sent  scouts  to  points  of 
observation  ;  but  giving  way  to  lawlessness  and  fol- 
lowing their  own  bent,  they  presently  began  to  pillage 
the  fair  fields  of  the  Egyptians,  carrying  off  wives  and 
infant  children  and  slaughtering  the  men.  Soon  the 
din  reached  the  city.  The  people  there,  hearing  the 
shouts,  came  forth  at  early  dawn,  and  all  the  plain 
was  filled  with  footmen  and  with  horsemen  and  with 
the  gleam  of  bronze.  Then  Zeus,  the  thunderer, 
brought  on  my  men  a  cruel  panic,  and  none  dared 
stand  and  face  the  foe.  Danger  encountered  us  on 
every  side.  So  the  Egyptians  slew  many  of  our  men 
with  the  sharp  sword,  and  carried  others  off  alive  to 
work  for  them  in  bondage.  But  Zeus  himself  put  in 
my  heart  this  plan.  Would  I  had  rather  died,  and  met 
my  doom  there  by  the  stream  of  Egypt !  For  since 
that  day  sorrow  has  held  me  fast.  Straightway  I  took 
the  well-made  helmet  from  my  head  and  shield  from 
off  my  shoulders,  and  flinging  away  my  spear,  I  ran 
to  meet  the  horses  of  the  king.  I  clasped  and  kissed 
his  knees  ;  he  spared  and  pitied  me,  and  seating  me 
in  his  chariot  bore  me  weeping  home.  A  multitude 
with  spears  rushed  after,  intent  on  killing  me,  for  they 
were  much  em-aged.  He  held  them  back,  dreading 
the  wrath  of  Zeus,  the  stranger's  friend,  who  ever 
visits  evil  deeds  with  his  displeasure.  Here  I  stayed 
seven  years,  and  I  amassed  much  wealth  among  the 
Egyptians  ;  for  they  all  gave  me  gifts.  But  when 
the  eighth  revolving  year  was  come,  a  certain  Phoeni= 
cian  came,  full  of  deceiving  arts,  a  greedy  knave,  one 
who  had  wrought  much  harm  to  men  already.  He 
now  prevailed  upon  me  by  his  wiles,  and  took  me  with 
him   till  we  reached  Phoenicia,  where  was  his  home 


222  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XIV.  292-323. 

and  substance.  Here  at  his  house  I  stayed  through- 
out the  year.  But  after  days  and  months  were  spent, 
as  the  year  rolled  and  other  seasons  came,  he  set  me 
on  a  sea-bound  ship  sailing  for  Libya,  falsely  profess- 
ing I  should  share  his  gains ;  but  purposing  to  sell  me 
there  and  reap  a  large  reward.  I  followed  him  on 
board,  suspecting  him,  but  helpless.  And  now  the 
ship  sped  on,  with  north  wind  fresh  and  fair,  through 
the  mid  sea  past  Crete,  Zeus  purposing  our  ruin. 

"  For  when  we  had  left  Crete  and  no  other  land  ap- 
peared, but  only  sky  and  sea,  the  son  of  Kronos  set  a 
dark  cloud  over  the  hollow  ship,  and  the  deep  gloomed 
below.  Zeus  at  the  same  time  thundered,  hurling  his 
bolt  against  the  ship.  She  quivered  in  every  part, 
struck  by  the  bolt  of  Zeus,  and  filled  with  sulphur 
smoke.  Out  of  the  ship  my  comrades  fell,  and  then 
like  sea-fowl  were  borne  by  the  side  of  the  black  ship 
along  the  waves  ;  God  cut  them  off  from  coming  home. 
But  helping  me,  whose  heart  was  filled  with  anguish, 
Zeus  put  the  long  mast  of  the  dark-bowed  ship  into 
my  hands,  so  that  I  might  once  more  escape  from 
death.  To  this  I  clung  and  drifted  before  the  deadly 
winds.  Nine  days  I  drifted  ;  on  the  tenth,  in  the  dark 
night,  the  vast  and  rolling  waters  cast  me  on  the  coast 
of  the  Thesprotians.  Here  the  king  of  the  Thespro- 
tians,  lord  Pheidon,  entertained  me,  and  freely  too  ; 
it  was  his  son  who  found  me,  overcome  with  cold  and 
toil,  and  took  me  home,  with  his  own  hand  supporting 
me  until  we  reached  his  father's  palace.  He  gave 
me  also  a  coat  and  tunic  for  my  clothing. 

"  Here,  then,  I  heard  about  Odysseus ;  for  Pheidon 
said  he  had  him  as  his  guest  and  friend  upon  his 
homeward  voyage.  He  showed  me  all  the  treasure 
that  Odysseus  had  obtained,  the  bronze  and  gold  and 


XIV.  324-357.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  223 

well- wrought  iron  ;  and  really  it  would  support  man 
after  man  ten  generations  long,  so  large  a  stock  was 
stored  in  the  king's  palace.  Odysseus  himself,  he 
said,  was  gone  at  that  time  to  Dodona,  to  learn  from 
the  sacred  lofty  oak  the  will  of  Zeus,  and  how  he  might 
return,  whether  openly  or  by  stealth,  to  the  rich  land 
of  Ithaca,  when  now  so  long  away.  Moreover,  in  my 
presence,  as  he  offered  a  libation  in  his  house,  he 
swore  the  ship  was  launched  and  sailors  waiting  to 
brino-  him  home  to  his  own  native  land.  But  he  sent 
me  off  before,  for  a  ship  of  the  Thesprotians  happened 
to  be  starting  for  the  Doulichian  grain-fields.  He 
bade  her  men  conduct  me  carefully  to  king  Acastus  ; 
but  in  their  hearts  a  wicked  scheme  found  favor,  to 
bring  me  yet  once  more  into  the  depths  of  woe.  For 
when  the  sea-bound  ship  was  far  from  shore,  they 
planned  a  life  of  slavery  for  me.  They  stripped  me 
of  my  clothes,  my  coat  and  tunic,  and  gave  in- 
stead the  wretched  frock  and  the  tunic  full  of  holes 
which  you  yourself  now  see.  Toward  night  they 
reached  the  fields  of  far-seen  Ithaca.  Here  with  a 
twisted  rope  they  bound  me  fast  upon  the  well- 
benched  ship,  and  disembarking  they  hastily  took  sup- 
per on  the  shore.  Meanwhile  the  gods  themselves 
lightly  untied  my  cords ;  and  I,  wrapping  my  frock 
about  my  head  and  sliding  down  the  slippery  rudder, 
brought  my  breast  into  the  sea,  where  swimming  hard 
I  oared  my  way  with  my  two  hands,  and  very  soon 
was  out  of  the  water,  clear  of  them.  Climbing  the 
bank  where  there  were  thickets  of  leafy  trees,  I  laid 
me  down  and  hid.  With  loud  cries  ran  the  others 
here  and  there ;  but  as  there  seemed  no  profit  in  any 
further  search,  they  entered  their  hollow  ship  once 
more.     So    the    gods    with    ease    concealed    me    and 


224  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XIV.  358-389. 

brought  me  to  this  farm  of  a  sagacious  man ;  because 
it  was  my  lot  to  live  still  longer." 

Then,  swineherd  Eumaeus,  you  answered  him  and 
said  :  "  Alas,  poor  stranger  !  You  have  deeply  stirred 
my  heart  by  telling  me  this  tale  of  all  your  woes  and 
wanderings.  Yet  here  I  think  you  err  :  you  never  can 
persuade  me  with  talk  about  Odysseus.  Why  should 
a  man  like  you  tell  lies  for  nothing  ?  I  understand 
about  my  master's  coming  ;  he  has  been  hated  utterly 
by  all  the  gods,  who  did  not  let  him  die  among  the 
Trojans  nor  in  the  arms  of  friends  when  the  skein 
of  war  was  wound.  Then  would  the  whole  Achaean 
host  have  made  his  grave,  and  for  his  son  in  after  days 
a  great  name  had  been  gained.  Now,  silently  the 
robber  winds  have  swept  him  off.  I,  meanwhile, 
dwell  apart  among  the  swine.  To  the  town  I  never 
go,  unless  sometimes  heedful  Penelope  commands  my 
going,  when  any  tidings  come.  Ah,  then  the  people 
sit  around  and  closely  question,  some  grieving  for 
their  long-gone  master,  some  glad  to  eat  his  substance 
and  make  him  no  amends.  But  as  for  me,  I  have  no 
mind  to  search  and  question  since  an  Aetolian  fellow 
cheated  me  with  his  tale.  He  killed  a  man,  and  wan- 
dering far  and  wide  came  to  my  farmstead  here,  and 
I  received  him  kindly.  He  told  me  how  in  Crete  he 
saw  Odysseus  with  Idomeneus,  mending  the  ships 
which  storms  had  shattered.  He  said  he  would  be 
here  hy  summer  or  by  harvest,  bringing  a  store  of 
wealth  and  all  his  gallant  crew.  You  too,  old  woe- 
worn  man,  now  Heaven  has  brought  you  here,  do  not 
by  lying  tales  attempt  to  please  or  win  me ;  since  out 
of  no  such  cause  I  show  respect  and  kindness,  but  out 
of  reverence  for  Zeus  the  stranger's  friend,  and  pity 
for  yourself." 


XIV.  390-421.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  225 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said : 
"  Surely  in  you  there  is  a  heart  so  unbelieving  that 
by  an  oath  I  did  not  move  it  nor  win  you  to  be- 
lieve. But  let  us  make  a  covenant  now,  and  for  us 
both  hereafter  our  witnesses  shall  be  the  gods  who 
I\old  Olympus :  if  ever  to  this  house  your  master 
comes,  clothe  me  in  coat  and  tunic  and  send  me  to 
Doulichion,  where  I  desire  to  be.  But  if  your  mas- 
ter does  not  come,  as  I  declare  he  will,  send  out  your 
men  and  throw  me  down  the  lofty  cliff,  that  other 
beggars  may  beware  of  telling  lying  tales." 

Then  answering  said  the  noble  swineherd  :  "  Stran- 
ger, fine  fame  and  fortune  would  be  mine  among 
mankind,  both  now  and  evermore,  if  after  I  had 
brought  you  to  the  lodge  and  given  you  welcome  I 
turned  about  and  slew  you  and  took  away  your  life  ! 
With  a  clear  heart  thereafter  I  should  pray  to  Zeus, 
the  son  of  Kronos  !  Well,  it  is  supper-time ;  and 
may  my  comrades  soon  be  here  to  get  at  the  lodge  a 
savory  supper  ! ' 

So  they  conversed  together.  Presently  came  the 
swine  and  those  who  kept  them.  They  shut  them  up 
to  sleep  in  their  accustomed  sties,  and  a  prodigious 
noise  arose  from  the  penned  swine.  Then  to  his  com- 
rades called  the  noble  swineherd  :  — 

"  Fetch  me  the  best  hog  hither,  to  slaughter  for 
the  stranger  wdio  comes  from  far  away.  AVe  too 
will  have  some  cheer,  who  for  a  long  time  now 
have  plagued  ourselves  over  the  white-toothed  swine. 
Others  devour  our  labor  and  make  us  no  amends." 

So  saying,  with  the  ruthless  axe  he  cleft  some  wood. 
The  others  brought  a  boar,  well  fatted,  five  years  old, 
and  stood  him  on  the  hearth  ;  and  now  the  swineherd, 
being  of  upright  heart,  did  not  forget  the  immortal 


226  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XIV.  422-453. 

£ods.  At  the  beginning:  be  cast  into  the  fire  hairs 
from  the  head  of  the  white-toothed  boar,  and  prayed 
to  all  the  gods  that  wise  Odysseus  might  return  to  his 
own  home.  Next  raising  high  a  billet  of  oak,  saved 
when  he  split  the  wood,  he  dealt  a  blow  and  the  boar's 
life  departed.  The  others  cut  the  throat  and  singed 
the  boar,  and  quickly  laid  him  open.  The  swineherd 
then  put  the  raw  meat,  selected  from  each  joint,  into 
rich  fat.  Some  parts  of  this,  sprinkled  with  barley 
meal,  they  cast  into  the  fire  ;  the  rest  they  sliced  and 
stuck  on  spits,  roasted  with  care,  drew  it  all  off,  and 
tossed  it  all  together  on  the  trenchers.  And  now  the 
swineherd  rose  to  carve,  —  for  well  he  knew  his  duties, 
—  and  as  he  carved  divided  all  in  seven  messes.  The 
first  mess  for  the  Nymphs  and  Hermes,  Maia's  son,  he 
set  aside  with  prayer,  passing  the  rest  to  each.  Od}*s- 
seus  he  honored  with  the  whole  length  of  the  chine, 
cut  from  the  white-toothed  boar,  and  so  rejoiced  his 
master's  heart.     Addressing  him,  said  wise  Odysseus  : 

"  Eumaeus,  may  you  be  as  dear  to  father  Zeus  as 
now  to  me,  for  honoring  with  kindness  such  as  I." 

And,  swineherd  Eumaeus,  you  answered  him  and 
said  :  "  Good  stranger,  eat ;  enjoy  what  lies  before 
you  !  God  gives  and  God  withholds,  as  is  his  plea- 
sure.    His  power  is  over  all." 

He  spoke  and  burned  the  consecrated  pieces  to  the 
ever-living  gods ;  then  pouring  sparkling  wine,  he  put 
the  cup  into  the  hands  of  city-sacking  Odysseus,  and 
took  his  seat  by  his  own  portion.  Mesaulius  passed 
them  bread,  a  man  the  swineherd  had  acquired  after 
his  lord  was  gone,  without  assistance  from  the  queen 
or  lord  Laertes ;  with  his  own  means  he  bought  him 
of  the  Taphians.  So  on  the  food  spread  out  before 
them  they  laid  hands.     Then    after  they  had  stayed 


XIV.  454-483.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  227 

desire  for  drink  and  food,  Mesanlius  took  away  the 
bread;  and  so  to  sleep,  sated  with  bread  and  meat, 
they  hastened. 

And  now  the  night  came  on,  moonless  and  foul. 
Zeus  rained  all  night ;  and  strong  the  west  wind  blew, 
a  wet  wind  always.  To  his  companions  spoke  Odys- 
seus, making  trial  of  the  swineherd  to  see  if  he  would 
pull  his  own  coat  off  and  offer  him,  or  order  one  of 
the  men  to  give  a  coat,  through  love  of  him. 

"  Hearken,  Eumaeus,  and  all  you  other  men,  and  I 
will  boast  a  bit  and  tell  a  story  ;  for  crazy  wine  so 
bids,  which  sets  a  man,  even  if  wise,  to  singing  loud 
and  laughing  lightly,  and  makes  him  dance  and  brings 
out  stories  really  better  left  untold.  But  since  I  have 
begun  to  croak,  I  '11  not  be  silent.  Would  I  were  in 
my  prime,  my  vigor  firm,  as  in  the  days  when  we  went 
under  Troy  and  set  an  ambush.  Odysseus  was  our 
captain,  and  Atreides  Menelaus,  and  with  them  I  was 
third  ;  for  so  they  ordered.  Now  when  we  reached 
the  city  and  the  lofty  wall,  in  the  thick  bushes  by  the 
citadel,  among  some  reeds  and  marsh-grass,  curled  up 
beneath  our  armor,  we  laid  us  down  to  sleep.  An 
ugly  night  came  on,  although  the  north  wind  fell, 
and  bleak  it  was.  From  overhead  came  snow,  like 
hoar-frost,  cold ;  and  ice  formed  on  the  edges  of 
our  shields.  Then  all  the  other  men  had  coats  and 
tunics,  and  slept  in  comfort  with  their  shields  snug 
round  their  shoulders.  But  I  at  starting  foolishly  left 
my  coat  with  my  companions,  because  I  did  not  think 
I  should  be  cold  at  all ;  so  off  I  came  with  nothing 
but  my  shield  and  colored  doublet.  But  when  it  was 
the  third  watch  of  the  night  and  the  stars  crossed  the 
zenith,  I  spoke  to  Odysseus  who  was  near,  nudging 
him  with  my  elbow,  and  readily  he  listened : 


228  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XIV.  484-517. 

"  '  High-born  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus,  I  shall 
not  be  among  the  living  long.  This  cold  is  killing 
me,  because  I  have  no  coat.  Some  god  beguiled  me 
into  wearing  nothing  but  my  tunic.  Now  there  is  no 
escape.' 

"  So  said  I,  and  he  at  once  had  an  idea  in  mind,  — 
so  ready  was  he  both  to  plan  and  fight,  —  and  speaking 
in  an  undertone  he  said  :  t  Keep  quiet  for  the  present, 
lest  some  other  Achaean  hear.' 

"  Then  raising  his  head  and  resting  on  his  elbow, 
thus  he  spoke :  4  Hark,  friends  !  A  dream  from  heaven 
came  to  me  in  my  sleep.  Yes,  we  have  come  a  long- 
way  from  the  ships.  Would  there  were  some  one  here 
to  tell  Atreides  Agamemnon,  the  shepherd  of  the  peo- 
ple, to  send  us  more  men  hither  from  the  fleet.' 

"  As  he  thus  spoke,  up  Thoas  sprung,  Andraemon's 
son,  who,  quickly  casting  off  his  purple  coat,  went  run- 
ning to  the  ships.  I,  in  his  garment,  lay  comfortably 
down  till  gold-throned  morning  dawned. 

"  So  would  I  now  were  in  my  prime,  my  vigor  firm ; 
jthen  one  of  the  swineherds  of  the  farm  might  give  a 
coat,  through  kindness  and  respect  for  a  deserving  man. 
Now  they  despise  me  for  the  sorry  clothes  I  wear." 

Then,  swineherd  Eumaeus,  you  answered  him  and 
said  :  "  Old  man,  the  boastings  you  have  uttered  are 
not  ill.  You  have  not  spoken  an  improper  or  a  silly 
word.  Therefore  you  shall  not  lack  for  clothes  nor 
anything  besides  which  it  is  fit  a  hard-pressed  sup- 
pliant should  find,  —  at  least  for  now  ;  to-morrow  you 
shall  wrap  yourself  in  your  own  rags.  There  are  not 
many  coats  and  extra  tunics  here  to  wear,  but  sim- 
ply one  apiece.  I  But  wdien  Odysseus'  son  returns,  he 
will  give  a  coat  and  tunic  for  your  clothing  and  send 
you  where  your  heart  and  soul  may  bid  you  go." 


XIV.  518-533.J  THE   ODYSSEY.  229 

So  saying,  he  rose  and  placed  a  bed  beside  the 
fire,  and  threw  upon  it  skins  of  sheep  and  goats.  On 
this  Odysseus  laid  him  down,  and  over  him  Eumaeus 
threw  a  great  shaggy  coat  which  lay  at  hand  as  extra 
clothing,  to  put  on  when  there  came  a  bitter  storm. 

So  here  Odysseus  slept,  and  by  his  side  the  young 
men  slept,  but  not  the  swineherd.  •  A  bed  here  pleased 
him  not,  thus  parted  from  his  swine,  but  he  prepared 
to  venture  forth.  Glad  was  Odysseus  that  Eumaeus 
took  such  care  of  his  estate  while  he  was  gone.  And 
first  Eumaeus  slung  a  sharp-edged  sword  about  his 
sturdy  shoulders,  put  on  his  storm-proof  shaggy  coat, 
picked  up  the  fleece  of  a  large  full-grown  goat,  took  a 
sharp  spear  to  keep  off  dogs  and  men,  and  went  away 
to  rest  where  lay  the  white-toothed  swine  under  a  hol- 
low rock,  sheltered  from  Boreas. 


XV. 

TELEMACHUS   AND   EUMAEUS. 

Now  to  spacious  Lacedaemon  went  Pallas  Athene 
to  seek  the  noble  son  of  resolute  Odysseus,  wishing  to 
call  his  home  to  mind  and  bid  him  hasten.  She  found 
Telemachus  and  the  worthy  son  of  Nestor  lying  within 
the  porch  of  famous  Menelaus.  The  son  of  Nestor 
was  still  wrapped  in  gentle  sleep  ;  but  to  Telemachus 
came  no  welcome  sleep,  for  through  the  immortal 
night  thoughts  in  his  heart  about  his  father  kept  him 
awake.  So  clear-eyed  Athene,  drawing  near,  addressed 
him  thus  : 

"  Telemachus,  it  is  not  well  to  wander  longer  far 
from  home,  leaving  your  wealth  behind  and  persons 
in  your  house  so  insolent  as  these  ;  for  they  may  swal- 
low all  your  wealth,  sharing  with  one  another,  while 
you  are  gone  a  fruitless  journey.  Nay,  with  all  haste 
urge  Menelaus,  good  at  the  war-cry,  to  send  you  forth, 
that  you  may  find  your  blameless  mother  still  at 
home.  Already  her  father  and  her  brothers  press 
her  to  wed  Eurymachus ;  for  he  excels  all  suitors 
in  his  gifts  and  overtops  their  dowry.  But  let  her 
not  against  your  will  take  treasure  from  your  home. 
You  know  a  woman's  way :  she  strives  to  enrich  his 
house  who  marries  her,  while  of  her  former  children 
and  the  husband  of  her  youth  when  he  is  dead  she 
thinks  not,  and  she  talks  of  him  no  more.  Go  then 
and  put  your  household  in   the  charge  of  her  among 


XV.  25-57.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  231 

the  maids  who  seems  the  best,  until  the  gods  grant 
you  an  honored  wife.  And  let  me  tell  you  more  ;  lay 
it  to  heart ;  by  a  deliberate  plan  the  leaders  of  the 
suitors  now  guard  the  strait  twixt  Ithaca  and  rugged 
Samos,  and  seek  to  cut  you  off  before  you  gain  your 
native  land.  Yet  this  I  think  shall  never  be  ;  rather 
the  earth  shall  cover  some  of  the  suitors  who  devour 
your  living.  Still,  keep  your  stanch  ship  off  the  islands 
and  sail  both  night  and  day  ;  and  one  of  the  immor- 
tals who  guards  and  keeps  you  safe  shall  send  a  favor- 
ing breeze.  When  then  }rou  reach  the  nearest  shore 
of  Ithaca,  send  forward  to  the  city  your  ship  and  all 
her  crew,  and  go  yourself  before  all  else  straight  to 
the  swineherd,  who  is  the  keeper  of  your  swine  and 
ever  loyal.  There  rest  a  night,  but  send  the  swine- 
herd to  the  city  to  bear  the  news  to  heedful  Penelope 
how  you  are  safe  and  how  you  have  returned  from 
Pylos." 

So  saying,  Athene  passed  away  to  high  Olympus. 
But  from  sweet  sleep  Telemachus  waked  Nestor's  son, 
touching  him  writh  his  heel,  and  thus  addressed  him  : 
"  Wake,  Nestor's  son,  Peisistratus  !  Bring  out  the 
strong-hoofed  horses  and  yoke  them  to  the  car,  that 
we  may  make  our  journey." 

Then  Nestor's  son,  Peisistratus,  made  answer : 
"  Telemachus,  we  cannot,  eager  for  the  journey  though 
we  are,  drive  in  the  dusky  night.  It  will  be  morning 
soon.  Wait  then  awhile  until  the  royal  son  of  Atreus, 
the  spearman  Menelaus,  brings  his  gifts,  places  them 
in  the  chariot,  and  sends  us  forth  with  cheering 
words  upon  our  way.  For  a  guest  remembers  all  his 
days  the  hospitable  man  who  showed  him  kindness." 

He  spoke,  and  soon  the  gold-throned  morning  came  ; 
and  Menelaus,  good  at  the   war-cry,  now  drew  near, 


232  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XV.  58-91. 

just  risen  from  bed  by  fair-haired  Helen.  When  the 
son  of  Odysseus  spied  him,  in  haste  he  girt  his  glossy 
tunic  round  his  body,  and  threw  a  great  cloak  round 
his  sturdy  shoulders.  So  forth  he  went  and  drawing 
near  thus  spoke  Telemachus,  the  son  of  princely 
Odysseus  : 

"  O  son  of  Atreus,  heaven-descended  Menelaus, 
leader  of  hosts,  now  at  last  let  me  go  to  my  own  native 
land  ;  for  my  heart  longs  for  home." 

Then  answered  Menelaus,  good  at  the  war-cry : 
*  Telemachus,  I  will  not  keep  you  longer  if  you  desire 
to  go.  I  blame  a  host  if  over-kind,  or  over-rude. 
Better,  good  sense  in  all  things.  It  is  an  equal  fault 
to  thrust  away  the  guest  who  does  not  care  to  go,  and 
to  detain  the  impatient.  Best  make  the  stranger  wel- 
come while  he  stays,  and  speed  him  when  he  wishes. 
But  wait  until  I  bring  you  gifts  and  place  them  in 
your  chariot,  beautiful  gifts,  as  you  yourself  shall  see. 
And  let  me  bid  the  maids  prepare  a  meal  here  in  the 
hall  from  our  abundant  stores.  It  brings  dignity  and 
honor  and  benefit  besides  to  feast  before  you  travel 
along  the  boundless  earth.  Then  if  3*011  choose  to 
make  a  tour  through  Hellas  and  mid-Argos,  so  far  I 
will  attend  you  ;  for  I  will  yoke  my  horses  and  guide 
you  through  the  towns.  Xo  one  will  send  us  empty 
off,  but  each  will  give  some  single  thing  to  bear  away, 
a  brazen  tripod,  caldron,  pair  of  mules  or  golden 
goblet.*' 

Then  again  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus : 
"  O  son  of  Atreus,  heaven-descended  Menelaus,  leader 
of  hosts,  at  present  I  had  rather  go  to  my  own  home, 
for  I  left  behind  at  starting  no  guardian  of  my  goods ; 
so  while  I  seek  my  godlike  father,  I  may  myself  be 
lost,  or  else  may  lose  out  of  my  house  some  valued 
treasure." 


XV.  92-124.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  233 

When  Menelaus,  good  at  the  war-cry,  heard  his 
words,  he  straightway  bade  his  wife  and  maids  pre- 
pare a  meal  there  in  the  hall  from  his  abundant 
stores.  And  now  the  son  of  Boethoiis,  Eteoneus,  en- 
tered, just  risen  from  his  bed  ;  for  he  lived  not  far 
away.  Menelaus,  good  at  the  war-cry,  told  him  to 
light  the  fire  and  roast  the  meat  ;  and  when  he  heard, 
he  did  not  disobey.  Menelaus  himself,  meanwhile, 
went  down  to  a  fragrant  chamber ;  yet  not  alone, 
for  Helen  went  and  Megapenthes.  And  when  they 
came  where  lay  his  treasure,  the  son  of  Atreus  took 
a  double  cup  and  ordered  Megapenthes  to  bring  a 
silver  bowl,  while  Helen  lingered  by  the  chests  where 
were  the  embroidered  robes  which  she  herself  had 
wrought.  Out  of  these  robes  the  royal  lady,  Helen, 
drew  forth  one  to  bear  away,  one  handsomest  in  work 
and  largest,  which  sparkled  like  a  star  ;  it  lay  be- 
neath the  others.  Then  forth  they  hastened  through 
the  palace  till  they  found  Telemachus,  whom  light- 
haired  Menelaus  thus  addressed : 

"  Telemachus,  as  your  heart  hopes,  may  Zeus,  the 
thunderer,  husband  of  Here,  grant  you  a  safe  return  ! 
And  out  of  all  the  gifts  stored  in  m}7  house  as  treas- 
ures, I  will  give  you  that  which  is  most  beautiful  and 
precious :  I  will  give  a  well-wrought  bowl.  It  is  of 
solid  silver,  its  rim  finished  with  gold,  the  work  of 
Hephaestus.  Lord  Phaedimus,  the  king  of  the  Si- 
donians,  gave  it  to  me,  wrhen  his  house  sheltered  me 
upon  my  homeward  way.  And  now  to  you  I  gladly 
give  it. 

So  saying,  the  lordly  son  of  Atreus  put  in  his  hands 
the  double  cup.  Then  the  bright  silver  bowl  strong 
Megapenthes  brought  and  set  before  him,  while  at  his 
side  stood  fair-cheeked  Helen,  holding  the  robe,  and 
thus  she  spoke  and  said : 


234  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XV.  125-155. 

"I  too,  dear  child,  will  give  a  gift,  this  keepsake 
from  the  hands  of  Helen  against  the  wished-for  wed- 
ding time,  for  your  wife  then  to  wear.  Meanwhile, 
in  your  good  mother's  charge  lay  it  away  at  home  : 
and  may  you  with  rejoicing  reach  your  stately  house 
and  native  land." 

So  saying,  she  laid  it  in  his  hands ;  he  took  it 
and  was  glad.  Then  lord  Peisistratus  put  in  the 
chariot  box  the  gifts  as  he  received  them,  viewing 
them  all  with  wonder.  Light-haired  Menelaus  led 
them  to  the  house,  where  they  took  seats  on  benches 
and  on  chairs.  Now  water  for  the  hands  a  servant 
brought  in  a  beautiful  pitcher,  made  of  gold,  and 
poured  it  out  over  a  silver  basin  for  their  washing,  and 
spread  a  polished  table  by  their  side.  And  the  grave 
housekeeper  brought  bread  and  placed  before  them, 
setting  out  food  of  many  a  kind,  freely  giving  of  her 
store.  The  son  of  Boethoiis,  too,  carved  meat  and 
passed  them  portions,  and  the  son  of  famous  Mene- 
laus j:>oured  their  wine  :  and  on  the  food  spread  out 
before  them  they  laid  hands.  Then  after  they  had 
stayed  desire  for  drink  and  food,  Telemachus  and 
Nestor's  gallant  son  harnessed  the  horses,  mounted 
the  gay  chariot,  and  off  they  drove  from  porch  and 
echoing  portico.  After  them  came  the  son  of  Atreus, 
light-haired  Menelaus,  in  his  right  hand  a  golden  cup 
of  cheering  wine,  for  them  to  pour  at  starting.  He 
stopped  before  the  horses  and  pledging  them  he  said  : 

"  A  health  to  you,  young  men  !  And  say  the  same 
to  Nestor,  the  shepherd  of  the  people  ;  for  he  was  kind 
to  me  as  any  father  those  days  we  young  Achaeans 
were  in  the  war  at  Troy." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  Even 
as  you  say,  O  heaven  -  descended   prince,   when  we 


XV.  156-184.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  235 

arrive  we  will  report  all  these  your  words.  And 
would  that  coming  home  to  Ithaca,  I  there  might  find 
Odysseus  in  my  home,  and  so  might  say  how  after 
meeting  every  kindness  here  with  you  I  went  my  way 
and  carried  many  precious  treasures  with  me  !  ' 

On  his  right,  as  he  was  speaking,  flew  an  eagle, 
bearing  in  his  claws  a  large  white  goose,  a  tame  fowl 
from  the  yard.  People  ran  shouting  after,  men  and 
women.  But  as  the  bird  drew  near,  he  darted  to  the 
right  before  the  horses.  All  saw  it  and  were  glad, 
and  in  their  breasts  their  hearts  grew  warm.  And 
thus  began  Peisistratus,  the  son  of  Nestor  : 

"  Think,  heaven  -  descended  Menelaus,  leader  of 
hosts  !  Is  it  we  to  whom  God  shows  this  sign,  or  is  it 
you?" 

He  spoke  and  valiant  Menelaus  pondered,  doubting 
what  he  should  think  and  rightly  answer.  But  long- 
robed  Helen,  taking  up  the  word,  spoke  thus : 
"  Hearken  and  I  will  prophesy  such  things  as  the  im- 
mortals bring  to  mind,  things  which  I  think  will  hap- 
pen. As  the  eagle  caught  the  goose,  —  she,  fattened 
in  the  house  ;  he,  coming  from  the  hills  where  he  was 
born  and  bred,  —  so  shall  Odysseus,  through  many 
woes  and  wanderings,  come  home  and  take  revenge. 
Even  now,  perhaps,  he  is  at  home,  sowing  the  seeds  of 
ill  for  all  the  suitors." 

Then  answered  her  discreet  Telemachus :  "  Zeus 
grant  it  so,  he  the  loud  thunderer,  husband  of  Here ! 
Then  would  I  there  too,  as  to  any  god,  give  thanks  to 

you." 

He  spoke  and  laid  the  lash  upon  the  horses,  and 
very  quickly  they  started  toward  the  plain,  hastening 
through  the  city  ;  and  all  day  long  they  shook  the 
yoke  they  bore  between  them. 


236  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XV.  185-214. 

Now  the  sun  sank  and  all  the  ways  grew  dark; 
and  the  men  arrived  at  Pherae,  before  the  house  of 
Diocles,  the  son  of  Orsilochus,  whose  father  was  Al- 
pheius.  There  for  the  night  they  rested  ;  he  gave  them 
entertainment.  Then  as  the  early  ros}T-fingered  dawn 
appeared,  they  harnessed  the  horses,  mounted  the  gay 
chariot,  and  off  they  drove  from  porch  and  echoing 
portico.  Telemachus  cracked  the  whip  to  start,  and 
not  unwillingly  the  pair  flew  off,  and  by  and  by  they 
came  to  the  steep  citadel  of  Pylos.  Then  said  Tele- 
machus to  Nestor's  sou  : 

"  O  son  of  Nestor,  could  you  give  and  perform  the 
promise  I  shall  ask  ?  Friends  from  of  old  we  call 
ourselves,  because  of  our  fathers'  friendship.  Besides, 
we  are  alike  in  years,  and  this  our  journey  will  make 
the  tie  more  close.  Do  not  then,  heaven-descended 
prince,  take  me  beyond  my  ship,  but  leave  me  there  ; 
for  fear  old  Nestor,  eager  for  kindness,  detain  me  at 
his  house  against  my  will,  when  I  should  hasten  on." 

So  he  spoke,  and  the  son  of  Nestor  doubted  within 
his  heart  if  he  could  rightly  give  and  perform  the 
promise.  Yet  on  reflecting  thus,  it  seemed  the  better 
way.  He  turned  his  horses  toward  the  swift  ship 
and  shore,  took  out  and  set  by  the  ship's  stern  the 
goodly  gifts,  —  the  clothing  and  the  gold  which  Mene- 
laus  gave,  —  and  hastening  Telemachus,  spoke  thus  in 
winged  words  : 

"  Quickly  embark  and  summon  all  your  crew  be- 
fore I  reach  my  home  and  tell  old  Nestor ;  for  in  my 
mind  and  heart  full  well  I  know  how  stern  his  temper 
is.  He  will  not  let  you  go  ;  he  wall  himself  come  here 
and  call  you.  I  tell  you,  too,  go  back  he  wrill  not 
empty-handed ;  for  he  will  be  very  angry,  notwith- 
standing what  you  say." 


XV.  215-245.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  237 

So  saying,  he  drove  his  full-maned  horses  to  the 
town  of  Pylos,  and  quickly  reached  the  palace.  But 
Telemachus,  inspiriting  his  crew,  called  to  them  thus : 
"  Put  all  the  gear  in  order,  friends,  on  the  black  ship ; 
and  come  aboard  yourselves  and  let  us  make  our 
journey." 

So  he  spoke,  and  willingly  they  heeded  and  obeyed ; 
quickly  they  came  on  board  and  took  their  places  at 
the  pins. 

With  these  things  he  was  busied,  and  now  by  the 
ship's  stern  was  making  prayers  and  offerings  to 
Athene,  when  up  there  came  a  wanderer,  exiled  from 
Argos  through  having  killed  a  man.  He  was  a  seer, 
and  of  the  lineage  of  Melampus.  In  former  times  Me- 
lampus  lived  at  Pylos,  the  mother-land  of  flocks,  and 
had  a  very  wealthy  home  among  the  Pylians.  Then 
he  went  to  a  land  of  strangers  and  departed  from  his 
country,  flying  from  high-souled  Neleus,  lordliest  of 
living  men,  who  for  a  full  year  held  by  force  his 
great  possessions.  He  meanwhile  in  the  halls  of 
Phylacus  was  kept  in  bitter  bondage  and  suffered 
great  distress,  because  of  the  daughter  of  Neleus  and 
the  delusion  deep  which  the  divine  sharp-scourging 
fury  brought  his  mind.  But  he  escaped  his  doom 
and  drove  the  bellowing  oxen  from  Phylace  to  Pylos ; 
and  punishing  matchless  Neleus  for  his  disgraceful 
deed,  he  brought  the  maiden  home  to  be  his  brother's 
wife.  So  he  came  to  a  land  of  strangers,  grazing 
Argos,  where  afterwards  he  was  to  live,  sovereign  of 
many  Argives.  And  here  he  took  a  wife  and  built  a 
high-roofed  house,  and  he  begot  two  sturdy  sons,  An- 
tiphates  and  Mantius.  Antiphates  again  begot  brave 
Oicles,  and  Oicles  Amphiaraiis,  the  summoner  of 
hosts,  whom  Zeus  the  aegis-bearer  and  Apollo  tenderly 


238  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XV.  246-277. 

loved,  and  showed  liiin  every  favor  ;  and  yet  he  did 
not  reach  the  threshold  of  old  age,  but  died  at  Thebes, 
destroyed  by  woman's  bribes.  To  him  were  born  two 
sons,  Alcmaeon  and  Amphilochus.  Now  Mantius 
begot  Cleitus  and  Polypheides ;  but  gold  -  throned 
dawn  took  Cleitus,  by  reason  of  his  beauty,  to  dwell 
with  the  immortals.  Of  eager  Polypheides  Apollo 
made  a  seer,  the  best  among  mankind  when  Amphia- 
raiis  died.  Quarrelling  with  his  father,  he  withdrew 
to  Hyperesia  ;  and  there  he  dwelt  and  prophesied  for 
all  men. 

It  was  his  son  drew  near,  named  Theoclymenus, 
and  stood  before  Telemachus.  He  found  him  making 
offerings  and  prayers  beside  the  swift  black  ship  :  and 
speaking  in  winged  words  he  said  : 

"  Friend,  since  I  find  you  offering  burnt-offerings 
here,  by  these  offerings  and  the  god  I  will  entreat 
you,  and  by  your  own  life  too,  and  that  of  those  who 
follow:  tell  truly  all  I  ask.  Hold  nothing  back. 
Who  are  you  ?  Of  what  people  ?  Where  is  your 
town  and  kindred  ?  " 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus :  "  Well, 
stranger,  I  will  plainly  tell  you  all.  By  birth  I  am  of 
Ithaca.  My  father  is  Odysseus  —  if  ever  such  there 
were  !  But  long  ago  he  died,  a  mournful  death  ;  so 
I,  with  men  and  a  black  ship,  am  come  to  gather 
news  of  my  long-absent  father." 

Then  answered  godlike  Theoclymenus  :  "  Like  you, 
I  too  am  far  from  home,  because  I  killed  a  kinsman. 
He  has  many  relatives  and  friends  in  grazing  Argos, 
and  with  the  Achaeans  their  influence  is  large.  To 
shun  the  death  and  the  dark  doom  which  they  would 
deal,  I  flee  ;  for  I  must  be  a  wanderer  now  from  tribe 
to  tribe.     Set  me  upon  your  ship,  a  fugitive  and  sup- 


XV.  278-307.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  239 

pliant.     Let  them  not  kill  me  ;  for  I  know  they  will 

pursue." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  I  shall 
not  thrust  you  forth  from  the  trim  ship  against  your 
will.  Nay,  follow  !  In  our  land  you  shall  receive 
what  we  can  give." 

So  saying  he  took  the  brazen  spear  from  Theocly- 
menus  and  laid  it  on  the  deck  of  the  curved  ship.  Te- 
lemachus himself  came  on  the  sea-bound  ship  and  sat 
him  in  the  stern,  while  by  his  side  sat  Theoclymenus. 
The  others  loosed  the  cables.  And  now  Telemachus, 
inspiriting  his  men,  bade  them  lay  hold  upon  the  tac- 
kling, and  they  busily  obeyed.  Raising  the  pine-wood 
mast,  they  set  it  in  the  hollow  socket,  binding  it  firm 
with  forestays,  and  tightened  the  white  sail  with 
twisted  ox-hide  thongs.  And  a  favorable  wind  clear- 
eyed  Athene  sent,  which  swept  with  violence  along  the 
sky,  so  that  the  scudding  ship  might  swiftly  make  her 
way  through  the  salt  ocean  water.  Thus  on  they  ran, 
past  Crouni  and  the  pleasant  streams  of  Chalcis.  The 
sun  was  setting  and  the  ways  were  growing  dark  as 
the  ship  drew  near  to  Pheae,  driven  by  the  breeze  of 
Zeus  ;  then  on  past  sacred  Elis  where  the  Epeians  rule. 
From  here  Telemachus  steered  for  the  Pointed  Isles, 
uncertain  if  he  should  escape  from  death  or  fall  a 
prey. 

Meanwhile  at  the  lodge  Odysseus  and  the  noble 
swineherd  were  eating  supper,  and  with  them  supped 
the  others.  And  after  they  had  stayed  desire  for 
drink  and  food,  thus  spoke  Odysseus,  —  making  trial 
of  the  swineherd,  to  see  if  he  would  longer  give  him 
a  hearty  welcome  and  urge  his  staying  at  the  farm,  or 
if  he  would  send  him  straightway  to  the  town  : 

"  Hearken,  Eumaeus  and  all  you  other  men !     I 


240  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XV.  308-342. 

want  to  go  to-morrow  to  beg  about  the  town,  for  fear  I 
burden  you  and  these  your  men.  Only  direct  me 
well,  and  give  me  a  trusty  guide  to  show  the  way. 
Once  in  the  city,  I  must  wander  by  myself,  and 
hope  some  man  will  give  a  cup  and  crust.  And  if  I 
come  to  the  house  of  princely  Odysseus,  there  I  will 
tell  my  tale  to  heedful  Penelope  and  join  the  auda- 
cious suitors,  who  might  perhaps  give  me  a  meal; 
since  they  have  great  abundance.  Soon  I  could  serve 
them  well  in  all  they  want.  For  let  me  tell  you  this, 
and  do  you  mark  and  listen :  by  favor  of  the  Guide- 
god,  Hermes,  who  lends  the  grace  and  dignity  to  all 
the  deeds  of  men,  in  servants'  work  I  have  no  equal, 
—  in  laying  a  fire  well,  splitting  dry  wood,  carving 
and  roasting  meat,  and  pouring  wine,  —  indeed,  in  all 
the  ways  that  poor  men  serve  their  betters." 

Then  deeply  moved  said  you,  swineherd  Eumaeus  : 
"  Why,  stranger,  how  came  such  a  notion  in  your 
mind  ?  You  certainly  must  long  to  die  that  very  in- 
stant when  you  consent  to  plunge  into  the  throng  of 
suitors,  whose  arrogance  and  outrage  reach  to  the 
iron  heavens.  Their  servants  are  not  such  as  you  ; 
but  younger  men,  well  dressed  in  coats  and  tunics, 
ever  with  glossy  heads  and  handsome  faces,  are  they 
who  do  them  service.  Their  polished  tables  are  laden 
with  bread  and  meat  and  wine.  No,  stay  with  us  ! 
Nobody  is  disturbed  that  you  are  here,  not  I  myself, 
nor  any  one  of  these  my  men.  And  when  Odysseus' 
son  returns,  he  will  give  a  coat  and  tunic  for  your 
clothing  and  send  you  where  your  heart  and  soul  may 
bid  you  go." 

Then  answered  him  long -tried  royal  Odysseus: 
"  May  you,  Eumaeus,  be  as  dear  to  father  Zeus  as  now 
to  me,  for  having  stopped  my  wandering  and  saved 


XV.  343-376.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  241 

me  bitter  woe.  Nothing  is  harder  for  a  man  than 
restless  roaming.  'T  is  for  the  cursed  belly's  sake  that 
men  meet  cruel  ills  when  wandering,  misfortune,  and 
distresses  Come.  Yet  while  yon  keep  me  here,  bidding 
me  wait  your  master,  pray  tell  me  of  the  mother  of 
princely  Odysseus,  and  of  his  father,  whom  when  he 
went  away  he  left  behind  on  the  threshold  of  old  age. 
Are  they  still  living  in  the  sunshine,  or  are  they  now 
already  dead  and  in  the  house  of  Hades?' 

Then  said  to  him  the  swineherd,  the  overseer : 
"  Well,  stranger,  I  will  plainly  tell  yon  all.  Laertes 
is  still  living,  but  ever  prays  to  Zeus  to  let  life  leave 
his  limbs  here  at  his  home  ;  for  he  mourns  exceedingly 
his  absent  son  and  the  early-wTedded  trusty  wife  whose 
death  distressed  him  sorely  and  brought  him  into  pre- 
mature old  age.  In  sorrow  for  her  famous  son,  she 
pined  away  —  a  piteous  death  !  May  none  die  so  who 
dwells  with  me,  who  is  my  friend  and  does  me  kind- 
ness. While  she  still  lived,  much  as  she  suffered, 
pleasant  it  was  to  ask  for  her  and  make  inquiries ;  for 
it  was  she  who  brought  me  up  with  long-robed  Cti- 
mene,  her  stately  daughter,  the  youngest  child  she 
bore.  "With  her  I  was  brought  up  and  I  was  honored 
little  less.  Then  when  we  reached  too-ether  the  longed- 
for  days  of  youth,  they  sent  Ctimene  to  Same  and 
obtained  large  wedding  gifts,  while  me  my  lady  dressed 
in  coat  and  tunic,  goodly  garments,  and  giving  san- 
dals for  my  feet  she  sent  me  to  the  farm  ;  yet  in  her 
heart  she  loved  me  more  and  more.  Now  all  that  love 
I  lack,  though  the  good  gods  bless  all  I  undertake. 
By  work  I  get  my  meat  and  drink,  and  give  to  the 
deserving,  but  from  the  queen  I  cannot  win  one  cheer- 
ing word  or  deed ;  trouble  has  fallen  on  the  house 
through  overbearing  men.    Yet  servants  long  to  speak 


242  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XV.  377-408. 

with  their  mistress  face  to  face,  from  her  to  learn  of 
all,  with  her  to  eat  and  drink,  and  then  take  some- 
thing also  to  the  fields.  Such  things  make  servants' 
hearts  grow  warm." 

Then  answering  said  wise  Odysseus :  "  Swineherd 
Eumaeus,  certainly  when  you  were  small  you  must 
have  wandered  far  from  home  and  kindred.  Tell  me 
about  it ;  tell  me  plainly  too.  Was  the  wide-wayed 
city  of  your  people  sacked,  the  city  where  your  father 
and  honored  mother  dwelt  ?  Or  when  you  were  alone 
among  your  sheep  and  cattle,  did  foemen  take  you  on 
their  ships  and  bring  you  across  the  sea  to  the  palace 
of  a  man  who  paid  a  proper  price?  " 

Then  said  to  him  the  swineherd,  the  overseer : 
"  Stranger,  since  now  you  ask  of  this  and  question 
me,  quietly  listen ;  take  your  ease,  and  sit  and  drink 
your  wine.  These  nights  are  vastly  long.  There  is  time 
enough  to  sleep,  and  time  to  cheer  ourselves  with  hear- 
ing stories.  You  must  not  go  to  bed  till  bed-time  ;  too 
much  sleeping  harms.  As  for  the  others  here,  if  any- 
body's heart  and  liking  bids,  let  him  go  off  and  sleep ; 
then  early  in  the  morning  after  eating,  let  him  attend 
his  master's  swine.  But  let  us  drink  and  feast  within 
the  lodge  and  please  ourselves  with  telling  one  an- 
other tales  of  piteous  ill ;  for  afterwards  a  man  finds 
pleasure  in  his  pains,  when  he  has  suffered  long  and 
wandered  long.  So  I  will  tell  you  what  you  ask  and 
seek  to  know. 

44  There  is  an  island,  Syria  it  is  called,  —  you  may 
have  heard  its  name, —  above  Ortvgia,  where  the  sun's 
course  turns  ;  not  very  thickly  settled,  good  however, 
with  excellent  flocks  and  herds  and  full  of  corn  and 
wine.  Into  this  land  dearth  never  comes,  nor  any  foul 
disease  attacks  unhappy  men  ;  but  when  the  families 


XV.  409-441.]  THE   ODYSSEY,  243 

throughout  the  town  grow  old,  Apollo  and  Artemis 
come  with  silver  bow  and  slay  them  with  their  gentle 
arrows.  Here  are  two  towns  and  all  the  land  is 
shared  between  them.  Over  them  both  my  father 
ruled,  Ctesius,  son  of  Ormenus,  a  man  like  the  im- 
mortals. 

"  Thither  Phoenicians  came,  notable  men  at  sea,  but 
greedy  knaves,  with  countless  trinkets  in  their  black- 
hulled  ship.  Now  in  my  father's  house  lived  a  Phoe- 
nician woman,  handsome  and  tall  and  skilled  in 
dainty  work  ;  and  her  the  wily  Phoenicians  led  astray. 
In  the  first  days,  when  she  was  washing  clothes  beside 
the  hollow  ship,  a  man  seduced  her  by  love  and  kind- 
ness ;  for  these  things  turn  the  heads  of  womankind, 
even  the  upright  too.  Then  he  asked  her  who  she 
was  and  whence  she  came  ;  whereat  she  pointed 
straightway  to  my  father's  high-roofed  house. 

"  4 1  boast  of  being  born  in  Sidon,  rich  in  bronze, 
and  am  the  daughter  of  Arybas,  a  man  of  abounding 
wealth.  But  Taphian  pirates  seized  me  as  I  wandered 
through  the  fields,  and  brought  me  here  across  the 
sea  to  the  palace  of  a  man  who  paid  a  proper  price.' 

"  Then  said  the  man  who  secretly  seduced  her  :  '  Re- 
turn then  home  again  with  us,  to  see  your  father's  and 
your  mother's  high-roofed  house,  and  see  them  too  ; 
for  they  are  living  still  and  still  accounted  rich.' 

"  Then  answered  him  the  woman  thus  and  said : 
'It  may  be,  if  you  sailors  pledge  yourselves  by  oath 
to  take  me  home  unharmed.' 

"  So  she  spoke,  and  they  all  took  the  oath  which  she 
required.  Then  after  they  had  sworn  and  ended  all 
their  oath,  once  more  the  woman  answered  them  and 
said :  '  Be  quiet  for  the  present !  Let  none  among 
your  crew  utter  a  word  to  me,  in  meetings  on  the  street 


244  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XV.  442-476. 

or  at  the  well,  or  some  one  coming  to  the  old  king's 
house  may  tell ;  and  he,  if  he  understands,  will  bind 
me  in  bitter  bonds  and  plot  your  ruin.  So  bear  in 
mind  my  words,  and  press  the  purchase  of  your  cargo  ; 
then  when  the  ship  is  filled  with  freight,  let  a  messen- 
ger come  quickly  to  the  palace,  and  I  will  bring  what- 
ever gold  I  find  at  hand.  Another  kind  of  passage- 
money  I  would  gladly  give.  At  home  I  tend  a  child, 
—  so  bright  a  boy  !  —  who  runs  beside  me  out  of 
doors.  Him  I  might  bring  on  board,  and  he  would 
fetch  a  mighty  sum  from  any  foreign  folk  you  visit.' 

"  So  saying,  she  departed  to  the  stately  palace.  And 
they  continued  with  us  all  the  year,  and  by  their  trad- 
ing gathered  in  their  hollow  ship  large  stores.  But 
when  the  hollow  ship  was  freighted  to  set  sail,  they 
sent  a  messenger  to  tell  the  woman.  This  crafty  man 
came  to  my  father's  house,  bringing  a  golden  necklace 
strung  with  amber  beads.  The  maids  about  the 
house  and  my  good  mother  kept  fingering  the  chain, 
and  eying  it,  and  offering  a  price.  The  man  mean- 
while signed  to  the  woman  silently,  and  having  given 
his  sign  departed  to  the  hollow  ship.  The  woman, 
then,  taking  me  by  the  hand,  led  me  off  out  of  doors. 
In  the  fore  part  of  the  house  she  found  some  cups 
and  tables,  where  people  had  been  feasting  who  waited 
on  my  father.  They  were  now  gone  to  a  public 
gathering  and  debate.  Quickly  she  hid  three  goblets 
in  her  breast  and  bore  them  off.  I  innocently  fol- 
lowed. The  sun  was  setting  and  the  roads  were  grow- 
ing dark ;  but  we  walked  swiftly  on  and  came  to  the 
well-known  harbor  where  the  Phoenicians'  sea-bound 
ship  was  lying.  Embarking  there,  the  men  set  sail 
upon  their  watery  way,  making  us  too  embark.  Zeus 
sent  us  wind.     Six  days  we  sailed,  as  well  by  night  as 


XV.  477-508.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  245 

day ;  but  when  Zeus,  the  son  of  Kronos,  brought  the 
seventh  day  round,  the  huntress  Artemis  struck  down 
the  woman,  and,  like  a  sea-coot,  in  the  hold  she 
dropped.  They  threw  her  overboard,  a  prey  to  seals 
and  fishes,  and  I  was  left  behind  with  aching  heart. 
But  wind  and  water  bore  us  thence  and  brought  us 
here  to  Ithaca,  and  here  Laertes  bought  me  with  his 
substance.     This  is  the  way  I  came  to  see  this  land." 

Then  thus  replied  high-born  Odysseus :  "  Eumaeus, 
you  have  deeply  stirred  the  heart  within  my  breast, 
telling  these  tales  of  all  the  troubles  you  have  borne. 
Yet  side  by  side  with  evil  Zeus  surely  gave  you  good, 
since  at  the  end  of  all  your  toils  you  reached  the 
house  of  a  kind  man  who  furnishes  you  food  and 
drink  in  plenty.  A  comfortable  life  you  lead ;  but  I 
come  here  a  wanderer  through  many  cities." 

So  they  conversed  together,  then  lay  and  slept  a 
little  while,  not  long ;  for  soon  came  bright-throned 
dawn. 

Meantime,  approaching  shore,  the  comrades  of  Te- 
lemachus  slackened  their  sail,  hastily  lowered  the 
mast,  and  with  their  oars  rowed  the  vessel  to  her 
moorings.  Here  they  cast  anchor  and  made  fast  the 
cables ;  and  going  forth  themselves  upon  the  shore, 
prepared  their  dinner  and  mixed  the  sparkling  wine. 
Then  after  they  had  stayed  desire  for  food  and  drink, 
discreet  Telemachus  thus  began  : 

"  Sail  the  black-hulled  ship,  my  men,  straight  to  the 
town  ;  I  go  to  the  fields  and  herdsmen.  At  evening, 
after  looking  at  the  farm,  I  too  will  come  to  town. 
To-morrow  I  will  make  you  payment  for  your  voyage 
by  a  bounteous  feast  of  meat  and  pleasant  wine." 

Then  up  spoke  godlike  Theoclymenus :  "  Where 
shall  I  go,  my  child  ?     To  whose  house  come,  of  all 


246  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XV.  509-538. 

the  men  who  rule  in  rocky  Ithaca?     Or  shall  I  go 
directly  to  your  mother's  house  and  yours  ? ' 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  At  any 
other  time  I  would  bid  you  come  to  us,  because  we 
have  no  lack  of  means  of  welcome.  But  for  your- 
self it  would  be  somewhat  dreary  now.  I  shall  be 
gone,  and  my  mother  will  not  see  you ;  for  she  is 
not  often  seen  in  the  same  room  with  the  suitors,  but 
in  an  upper  chamber  far  away  she  tends  her  loom. 
But  I  will  name  another  man  to  whom  you  well  might 
go :  Eurymachus,  the  illustrious  son  of  skillful  Poly- 
bus,  whom  nowadays  the  men  of  Ithaca  look  upon  as 
a  god  ;  for  he  is  certainly  the  chief  man  here.  He 
much  desires  to  wed  my  mother  and  obtain  the  hon- 
ors of  Odysseus.  Nevertheless,  Olympian  Zeus,  who 
dwells  in  the  clear  sky,  knows  whether  before  the 
wedding  he  will  set  a  day  of  ill." 

Even  as  he  spoke,  upon  his  right  there  flew  a  bird, 
a  hawk,  Apollo's  speedy  messenger.  With  his  claws 
he  tore  the  dove  he  held  and  scattered  down  its  fea- 
thers to  the  ground,  midway  between  the  ship  and 
Telemachus  himself.  Then  Theoclymenus,  calling 
Telemachus  aside  from  his  companions,  held  fast  his 
hand  and  spoke  and  thus  addressed  him : 

"  Telemachus,  not  without  God's  warrant  flew  this 
bird  upon  our  right.  I  knew  him  at  a  glance  to  be 
a  bird  of  omen.  There  is  no  house  in  Ithaca  more 
kingly  than  your  own  ;  and  you  shall  always  be  the 
rulers  here." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus :  "  Ah 
stranger,  would  these  words  of  yours  might  be  ful- 
filled !  Soon  should  3^011  know  my  kindness  and  many 
a  gift  from  me,  and  every  man  you  met  would  call 
you  blessed." 


XV.  539-557.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  247 

Then  turning  to  Peiraeus,  his  good  comrade  :  "  Pei- 
raeus,  son  of  Clytius,  you  always  do  my  bidding  best 
of  all  the  men  who  followed  me  to  Pylos ;  so  take 
this  stranger  to  your  home  and  treat  him  kindly,  and 
show  him  honor  till  the  time  that  I  shall  come." 

Then  answered  him  Peiraeus,  the  famous  spearman  : 
"  Telemachus,  though  you  stay  long,  I  still  will  enter- 
tain him  ;  no  lack  of  welcome  shall  there  be." 

So  saying,  Peiraeus  went  aboard  the  ship  and  called 
the  crew  to  come  on  board  and  loose  the  cables. 
Quickly  they  came  and  took  their  places  at  the  pins. 
Telemachus  bound  to  his  feet  his  beautiful  sandals 
and  took  his  ponderous  spear,  tipped  with  sharp 
bronze,  from  the  ship's  deck.  The  sailors  loosed  the 
cables  and  thrusting  off  the  ship  sailed  to  the  town, 
as  they  were  ordered  by  Telemachus,  the  son  of 
princely  Odysseus.  But  him,  meanwhile,  his  feet 
bore  swiftly  onward  until  he  reached  the  court  where 
were  the  countless  swine  with  wdiom  the  trusty  swine- 
herd lodged,  still  faithful  to  his  master. 


XVI. 

THE   RECOGNITION    BY   TELEMACHUS. 

Meanwhile  at  the  lodge  Odysseus  and  the  noble 
swineherd  prepared  their  breakfast  in  the  early  dawn, 
before  the  lighted  fire,  having  already  sent  the  herds- 
men with  the  droves  of  swine  forth  to  the  fields. 
As  Telemachus  drew  near,  the  dogs  that  love  to  bark 
began  to  wag  their  tails,  but  did  not  bark.  Royal 
Odysseus  noticed  the  dogs  wagging  their  tails,  and  the 
sound  of  footsteps  reached  him  ;  and  straightway  to 
Eumaeus  he  spoke  these  winged  words : 

"  Eumaeus,  certainly  a  friend  is  coming,  at  least  a 
man  you  know ;  for  the  dogs  here  do  not  bark,  but 
wag  their  tails,  and  I  hear  the  tramp  of  feet." 

The  words  were  hardly  uttered  when  his  own  son 
stood  in  the  doorway.  In  surprise  up  sprang  the 
swineherd,  and  from  his  hands  the  vessels  fell  with 
which  he  had  been  busied,  mixing  sparkling  wine. 
He  went  to  meet  his  master,  and  kissed  his  face,  each 
of  his  beautiful  eyes,  and  both  his  hands,  letting  the 
big  tears  fall.  And  as  a  loving  father  greets  the  son 
who  comes  from  foreign  lands,  ten  years  away,  his 
only  child,  now  grown  a  man,  for  whom  he  long  has 
sorrowed  ;  even  so  the  noble  swineherd  took  princely 
Telemachus  in  his  arms  and  kissed  him  o'er  and  o'er, 
as  one  escaped  from  death,  and  sobbing  said  to  him 
in  winged  words : 

"  So  you  are  here,  Telemachus,  my  own  sweet  light ! 


XVI.  23-56.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  249 

I  said  I  should  not  see  you  any  more  after  you  went 
away  by  ship  to  Pylos.  Come  in  then,  child,  and  let 
me  cheer  my  heart  with  looking  at  you,  just  come  from 
far  away.  You  do  not  often  visit  the  farm  and  herds- 
men. You  tarry  in  the  town  ;  for  nowadays  you  want 
to  watch  the  wasteful  throng  of  suitors." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus :  "  So  be 
it,  father  !  'T  is  for  your  sake  I  am  here,  to  see  you 
with  my  eyes,  and  hear  you  tell  if  my  mother  still  is 
staying  at  the  hall,  or  if  at  last  some  stranger  won 
her,  and  so  Odysseus'  bed,  empty  of  occupants,  stands 
covered  with  foul  cobwebs." 

Then  answered  him  the  swineherd,  the  overseer : 
"  Indeed  she  stays  with  patient  heart  within  your 
hall,  and  wearily  the  nights  and  days  are  wasted  with 
her  tears." 

So  saying,  Eumaeus  took  Telemachus'  brazen  spear, 
and  Telemachus  wTent  in  and  over  the  stone  threshold. 
As  he  drew  near,  his  father,  Odysseus,  yielded  him 
his  seat ;  but  Telemachus  on  his  part  checked  him, 
saying  : 

"  Be  seated,  stranger.  Elsewhere  we  shall  find  a 
seat  at  this  our  farm.     Here  is  a  man  will  give  one." 

He  spoke,  and  his  father  turned  and  sat  once  more  ; 
but  the  swineherd  threw  green  brushwood  down  and 
on  its  top  a  fleece,  on  which  the  dear  son  of  Odysseus 
took  his  seat.  And  now  the  swineherd  brought  platr 
ters  of  roasted  meat,  which  those  who  ate  the  day 
before  had  left.  Bustling  about  he  heaped  bread  in 
the  baskets,  and  in  an  ivy  bowl  mixed  honeyed  wine, 
then  took  a  seat  himself  over  against  princely  Odys- 
seus, and  on  the  food  spread  out  before  them  they 
laid  hands.  So  after  they  had  stayed  desire  for  drink 
and  food,  to  the  noble  swineherd  said  Telemachus : 


250  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XVI.  57-89. 

"  Father,  whence  came  this  stranger  ?  How  did 
his  sailors  bring  him  to  Ithaca?  Whom  did  they 
call  themselves  ?  For  I  am  sure  he  did  not  come  on 
foot." 

Then,  swineherd  Eumaeus,  you  answered  him  and 
said  :  "  Well,  I  will  tell  you  all  the  truth,  my  child. 
He  calls  himself  by  birth  of  lowland  Crete,  but  says 
he  has  come  to  many  cities  in  his  wanderings ;  so 
Heaven  ordained  his  lot.  Lately  he  ran  away  from 
a  ship  of  the  Thesprotians  and  came  to  my  farm  here. 
I  place  him  in  your  charge.  Do  what  you  will.  He 
calls  himself  your  suppliant." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus :  "  Eu- 
maeus, truly  these  are  bitter  words  which  you  have 
said.  How  can  I  take  a  stranger  home  ?  I  am 
myself  but  young  and  cannot  trust  my  arm  to  right 
me  with  the  man  who  wrongs  me  first.  Moreover  my 
mother's  feeling  wavers,  whether  to  bide  beside  me 
here  and  keep  the  house,  and  thus  revere  her  hus- 
band's bed  and  heed  the  public  voice,  or  finally  to 
follow  some  chief  of  the  Achaean s  wrho  woos  her  in 
the  hall  with  largest  gifts.  However,  since  the  stranger 
has  reached  your  lodging  here,  I  will  clothe  him  in 
a  coat  and  tunic,  goodly  garments,  give  him  a  two- 
edged  sword  and  sandals  for  his  feet,  and  I  will  send 
him  where  his  heart  and  soul  may  bid  him  go.  Or, 
if  you  like,  serve  him  yourself  and  keep  him  at  the 
farm  ;  and  I  will  send  him  clothing  and  all  his  food  to 
eat,  so  that  he  may  not  burden  you  and  yours.  Yon- 
der among  the  suitors  I  would  not  have  him  go  ;  for 
they  are  full  of  wanton  pride.  So  they  might  mock 
him,  —  a  cruel  grief  to  me.  Hard  is  it  even  for  a 
powerful  man  to  act  against  a  crowd  ;  because  to- 
gether they  are  far  too  strong." 


XVI.  90-125.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  251 

Then  said  to  him  long  -  tried  royal  Odysseus : 
"  Friend,  —  for  surely  I  too  have  a  right  to  answer, 
—  my  heart  is  sore  at  hearing  what  you  say,  that  suit- 
ors work  abomination  at  the  palace  against  a  man 
like  you.  But  tell  me,  do  you  willingly  submit,  or 
are  the  people  of  your  land  adverse  to  you,  led  by 
some  voice  of  God  ?  Or  have  you  any  cause  to  blame 
your  brothers,  on  whom  a  man  relies  for  aid  when 
bitter  strifes  arise  ?  Would  that,  to  match  my  spirit, 
I  were  young  as  you,  and  were  the  son  of  good 
Odysseus,  or  even  Odysseus'  self,  come  from  his  wan- 
derings, as  there  still  is  room  for  hope ;  then  quickly 
should  my  foe  strike  off  my  head,  or  I  would  prove 
the  bane  of  all  these  suitors  when  I  should  cross  the 
hall  of  Laertes'  son  Odysseus.  And  should  they  by 
their  number  crush  me,  all  single  and  alone,  far 
rather  would  I  die,  cut  down  within  my  hall,  than 
constantly  behold  disgraceful  deeds,  strangers  abused, 
and  damsels  dragged  to  shame  through  the  fair  pal- 
ace, wine  running  waste,  men  eating  up  my  bread,  all 
idly,  uselessly,  to  win  what  cannot  be ! ' 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  Well, 
stranger,  I  will  plainly  tell  you  all.  My  people  as  a 
whole  bear  me  no  grudge  or  hate  ;  nor  yet  can  I  blame 
brothers,  on  whom  a  man  relies  for  aid  when  bitter 
strifes  arise ;  for  the  son  of  Kronos  made  our  race 
run  in  a  single  line.  Arceisius  begot  a  single  son 
Laertes ;  and  he,  the  single  son  Odysseus ;  Odysseus  left 
me  here  at  home,  the  single  son  of  his  begetting,  and 
of  me  had  no  joy.  But  bands  of  evil-minded  men 
now  fill  my  house ;  for  all  the  nobles  who  bear  sway 
among  the  islands  —  Doulichion,  Same,  and  woody 
Zacynthus  —  and  they  who  have  the  power  in  rocky 
Ithaca,  all  woo    my  mother  and  despoil  my   home. 


252  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XVI.  126-159. 

She  neither  declines  the  hated  suit  nor  has  she  power 
to  end  it,  while  they  with  feasting  impoverish  my 
home  and  soon  will  bring  me  also  to  destruction. 
However,  in  the  lap  of  the  gods  these  matters  lie. 
But,  father,  quickly  go  and  say  to  steadfast  Penelope 
that  I  am  safe  and  have  returned  from  Pylos.  I  will 
stay  here  ;  do  you  come  hither  too ;  and  tell  your  tid- 
ings to  her  only.  Let  none  of  the  rest  of  the  Achae- 
ans  hear ;  for  many  are  they  that  plot  against  me." 

Then,  swineherd  Eumaeus,  you  answered  him  and 
said  :  "  I  see,  I  understand  ;  you  speak  to  one  who 
knows.  But  now  declare  me  this  and  plainly  say,  shall 
I  go  tell  Laertes  on  my  way,  wretched  Laertes,  who  for 
a  time,  though  grieving  greatly  for  Odysseus,  still 
oversaw  his  fields  and  with  his  men  at  home  would 
drink  and  eat  as  appetite  inclined  ;  but  from  the  day 
you  went  by  ship  to  Pylos  did  never  eat  nor  drink  the 
same,  they  say,  nor  oversaw  his  fields,  but  full  of 
moans  and  sighs  sits  sorrowing,  while  the  flesh  wastes 
upon  his  bones." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus :  "  'T  is 
hard,  but  though  it  grieves  us,  we  will  let  him  be  ;  if 
all  that  men  desire  were  in  their  power,  the  first  thing 
we  should  choose  would  be  the  coming  of  my  father. 
No,  give  your  message  and  return,  and  do  not  wander 
through  the  fields  to  find  Laertes.  But  tell  my  mother 
to  send  forthwith  her  housemaid  thither,  yet  privately; 
for  to  the  old  man  she  might  bear  the  news." 

So  saying,  he  dispatched  the  swineherd,  who  took 
his  sandals,  bound  them  to  his  feet,  and  went  to  town. 
Yet  not  unnoticed  by  Athene  swineherd  Eumaeus  left 
the  farm  ;  but  she  herself  drew  near  in  likeness  of 
a  woman,  one  fair  and  tall  and  skilled  in  dainty 
work.     By  the  lodge  door  she  stood,  visible  to  Oclys- 


XVI.  160-191.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  253 

seus.  Telemaehus  did  not  glance  her  way  nor  notice 
her ;  for  not  to  every  one  do  gods  appear.  Odysseus 
saw  her,  and  the  dogs  ;  yet  the  dogs  did  not  bark,  but 
whining  sluuk  away  across  the  place.  "With  her  brows 
she  made  a  sign ;  royal  Odysseus  understood,  came 
forth  from  the  hall  past  the  great  courtyard  wall,  and 
stood  before  her,  and  Athene  said  : 

"  High-born  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus,  tell 
now  your  story  to  your  son.  Hide  it  no  longer.  Then 
haviDg  planned  the  suitors'  death  and  doom,  go  for- 
ward both  of  you  into  the  famous  city.  And  I  my- 
self will  not  be  far  away,  for  I  am  eager  for  the  com- 
bat." 

She  spoke  and  with  a  golden  wand  Athene  touched 
Odysseus.  And  first  she  laid  a  spotless  robe  and  tunic 
on  his  body,  and  then  increased  his  bulk  and  bloom. 
Again  he  grew  dark-hued ;  his  cheeks  were  rounded, 
and  dark  the  beard  became  about  his  chin.  This 
done,  she  went  away ;  and  now  Odysseus  entered  the 
lodge.  His  son  was  awe-struck  and  reverently  turned 
his  eyes  aside,  fearing  it  was  a  god.  Then  speaking 
in  winged  words  he  said : 

"  Stranger ,  you  seem  a  different  person  now  and  a 
while  ago.  Your  clothes  are  different  and  your  flesh 
is  not  the  same.  You  surely  are  one  of  the  gods  who 
hold  the  open  sky.  Nay,  then,  be  gracious !  So  will 
we  give  you  grateful  offerings  and  fine-wrought  gifts 
of  gold.     Have  mercy  on  us  !  " 

Then  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  answered  :  "  I  am 
no  god.  Why  liken  me  to  the  immortals  ?  I  am 
your  father,  him  for  whom  you  sighed  and  suffered 
long,  enduring  outrage  at  the  hands  of  men." 

So  saying,  he  kissed  his  son  and  down  his  cheeks 
upon  the  ground  let  fall  a  tear,  which  always  hitherto 


254  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XVI.  192-224. 

lie  sternly  had  suppressed.  But  Telemachus  —  for  lie 
did  not  yet  believe  it  was  his  father,  —  finding  his 
words  once  more  made  answer  thus  : 

"  No,  you  are  not  Odysseus,  not  my  father  !  Some 
god  beguiles  me,  to  make  me  weep  and  sorrow  more. 
No  mortal  man  by  his  own  wit  could  work  such  won- 
ders, unless  a  god  came  to  his  aid  and  by  his  will  made 
him  with  ease  a  young  man  or  an  old.  For  lately  you 
were  old  and  meanly  clad ;  now  you  are  like  the  gods 
who  hold  the  open  sky." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said  :  "  Te- 
lemachus, it  is  not  right  when  here  your  father  stands, 
to  marvel  overmuch  and  to  be  so  amazed.  Be  sure  no 
other  Odysseus  ever  will  appear ;  but  as  you  see  me, 
it  is  I,  I  who  have  suffered  long  and  wandered  long, 
and  now  in  the  twentieth  year  come  to  my  native 
land.  This  is  the  work  of  the  Plunderer,  Athene, 
who  makes  me  what  she  will,  —  for  she  has  power, 
—  now  like  a  beggar,  now  again  a  youth  in  fair  attire. 
Easily  can  the  gods  who  hold  the  open  sky  give  glory 
to  a  mortal  man  or  give  him  shame." 

So  saying,  he  sat  down ;  whereat  Telemachus, 
throwing  his  arms  round  his  good  father,  began  to 
sob  and  pour  forth  tears,  and  in  them  both  arose  a 
longing  of  lament.  Loud  were  their  cries  and  more 
unceasing  than  those  of  birds,  ospreys  or  crook-clawed 
vultures,  when  farmers  take  away  their  young  before 
the  wings  are  grown :  so  pitifully  fell  the  tears  be- 
neath their  brows.  And  daylight  had  gone  down 
upon  their  weeping,  had  not  Telemachus  suddenly 
addressed  his  father  thus : 

"  Why,  father,  by  what  ship  did  sailors  bring  you 
to  Ithaca  ?  Whom  did  they  call  themselves  ?  For  I 
am  sure  you  did  not  come  on  foot." 


XVI.  225-259.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  255 

Then  said  to  him  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  :  "  Well, 
I  will  tell  yon,  child,  the  very  truth.  The  Phaeacians 
brought  me  here,  notable  men  at  sea,  who  pilot  others 
too  who  come  their  way.  They  brought  me  across  the 
sea  on  a  swift  ship  asleep,  landed  me  here  in  Ithaca 
and  gave  me  glorious  gifts,  much  bronze  and  gold 
and  woven  stuff ;  which  treasures  by  the  gods'  com- 
mand are  laid  away  in  caves.  Here  I  now  am  by 
bidding  of  Athene,  that  we  may  plan  together  the 
slaughter  of  our  foes.  Come  tell  me  then  the  num- 
ber of  the  suitors,  that  I  may  know  how  many  and 
what  sort  of  men  they  are  ;  and  so,  weighing  the 
matter  in  my  gallant  heart,  I  may  decide  if  we  can 
meet  them  quite  alone,  without  allies,  or  whether  we 
shall  seek  the  aid  of  others." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  Verily, 
father,  I  have  ever  heard  your  great  renown,  what  a 
warrior  you  are  in  arm  and  what  a  sage  in  council. 
But  now  you  speak  of  something  far  too  vast ;  I  am 
astonished.  Two  could  not  fight  a  troop  of  valiant 
men.  The  suitors  number  no  mere  ten,  nor  twice  ten 
either  ;  many  more.  You  shall  soon  learn  their  num- 
ber. From  Doulichion,  two  and  fifty  chosen  youths 
and  six  attendants  ;  four  and  twenty  men  from  Same ; 
from  Zacynthus  twenty  young  Achaeans  ;  twelve  out 
of  Ithaca  itself,  all  men  of  mark,  with  whom  are  also 
the  page  Meclon  and  the  sacred  bard,  besides  two  fol- 
lowers skilled  in  table  service.  If  we  confront  all 
these  within  the  hall,  bitter  and  grievous  may  the 
vengeance  be,  gained  by  your  coming.  So  if  you  pos- 
sibly can  think  of  aid,  consider  who  will  aid  us  now 
whole-heartedly. ' ' 

Then  said  to  him  long-tried  royal  Odysseus :  "  Nay, 
let  me  speak,  and  do  you  mark  and  listen.     Consider 


256  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XVI.  260-294. 

if  Athene,  joined  with  father  Zeus,  suffice  for  us,  or 
shall  I  seek  for  other  aid  ?  " 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  Excel- 
lent helpers  are  the  two  you  name,  who  sit  among  the 
clouds  on  high.  All  else  they  govern,  all  mankind 
and  the  immortal  gods." 

Then  said  to  him  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  :  "  Not 
long  will  they  be  absent  from  the  mighty  fray  when 
in  my  hall  betwixt  the  suitors  and  ourselves  the  tug 
of  war  is  tried.  But  go  at  early  morning  straightway 
home,  and  join  the  audacious  suitors.  Thereafter 
the  swineherd  shall  bring  me  to  the  city,  like  an  old 
and  wretched  beggar.  And  if  they  treat  me  rudely 
in  my  home,  let  the  faithful  heart  within  your  breast 
endure  what  I  must  bear ;  yes,  though  they  drag  me 
through  the  palace  by  the  heels  and  out  of  door,  or 
hurl  their  missiles  at  me,  see  and  be  patient  still.  Bid 
them,  however,  cease  their  folly,  and  with  gentle 
words  dissuade.  They  will  not  heed  you,  for  their 
day  of  doom  draws  near.  But  this  I  will  say  farther ; 
mark  it  well.  When  wise  Athene  puts  it  in  my  mind, 
then  I  will  nod  my  head,  and  you  take  note.  And  all  the 
fighting  gear  that  lies  about  the  hall  do  you  collect  and 
lay  in  a  corner  of  the  lofty  chamber,  carefully,  every 
piece.  Then  with  soft  words  beguile  the  suitors  when 
they,  because  they  miss  it,  question  you :  '  I  put  it  by 
out  of  the  smoke,  for  it  looks  no  longer  like  the  ar- 
mor  which  Odysseus  left  behind  when  he  went  away 
to  Troy;  it  is  all  tarnished,  where  the  scent  of  fire 
has  come  nigh.  Besides,  the  son  of  Kronos  brought 
this  graver  fear  to  mind.  You  might  when  full  of 
wine  begin  a  quarrel  and  give  each  other  wounds, 
making  a  scandal  of  the  feast  and  of  your  wooing. 
Steel  itself  draws  men  on.'     Yet  privily  reserve  two 


VvVt*  ^^uMlAiM^  tK^^MvtW^jCi' 


XVI.  295-330. J  THE    ODYSSEY.  257 

swords,  two  spears,  two  leathern  shields,  for  us  to 
seize  —  to  rush  and  seize.  And  thereupon  shall  Pal- 
las Athene  and  all-wise  Zens  confound,  the  suitors. 
Nay,  this  I  will  say  farther  ;  mark  it  well.  If  you 
are  truly  mine,  my  very  blood,  then  that  Odysseus 
now  is  here  let  no  man  know ;  let  not  Laertes  learn 
it,  let  not  the  swineherd,  let  none  of  the  household, 
nor  Penelope  herself.  But  you  and  I  alone  will  test 
the  temper  of  the  women.  And  we  might  also  try 
the  serving-men,  and  see  who  honors  and  respects  us 
in  his  heart,  and  who  neglects  and  scorns  a  man  like 

you." 

Then  answered  him  his  noble  son  and  said :  "  My 
father,  you  shall  know  my  heart,  believe  me,  by  and 
by.  No  laggard  thoughts  are  mine ;  and  yet  I  think 
your  plan  will  prove  for  neither  of  us  gain,  and  so  I 
say  :  Consider  !  Long  will  you  vainly  go,  trying  the 
different  men  among  the  farms ;  while  undisturbed 
within  the  hall  these  waste  your  wealth  with  reckless- 
ness and  do  not  spare.  But  I  advise  your  finding  out 
the  women,  and  learning  who  dishonor  you  and  who 
are  guiltless.  As  to  the  men  about  the  place,  I  would 
not  prove  them.  Let  that  at  any  rate  be  thought  of 
later,  when  you  are  really  sure  of  signs  from  aegis- 
bearing  Zeus." 

So  they  conversed  together.  But  in  the  mean  while 
on  to  Ithaca  ran  the  stanch  ship  which  brought  Te- 
lemachus  and  all  his  crew  from  Pylos.  When  they 
had  entered  the  deep  harbor,  they  hauled  the  black- 
hulled  ship  ashore,  and  stately  squires  carried  their 
armor  and  straightway  bore  the  goodly  gifts  to  Cly- 
tius'  house.  And  now  they  sent  a  page  to  the  palace 
of  Odysseus,  to  tell  the  news  to  heedful  Penelope,  — 
how  Telemachus  was  at  the  farm,  but  had  ordered  that 


258  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XVI.  331-360- 

the  ship  sail  to  the  city  —  lest  the  stately  queen  should 
be  alarmed  and  shed  a  tender  tear.  So  the  two  met, 
the  herald  and  the  noble  swineherd,  while  on  the  self- 
same errand,  bearing  tidings  to  the  queen.  And  when 
they  reached  the  palace  of  the  noble  king,  the  page 
said  to  Penelope  in  hearing  of  her  maids  :  "  O  queen, 
your  son  has  come  from  Pylos."  But  the  swineherd 
stood  beside  Penelope  and  so  reported  all  that  her 
dear  son  had  bade  him  say.  Then  when  he  had  de- 
livered all  his  charge,  he  departed  to  his  swine,  and 
left  the  court  and  hall. 

But  the  suitors  grew  dismayed  and  downcast  in 
their  hearts,  and  came  forth  from  the  hall  past  the 
great  courtyard  wall  and  there  before  the  gate  sat 
down  to  council ;  and  first  Eurymachus,  the  son  of 
Polybus,  addressed  them  : 

"  Friends,  here  is  a  monstrous  action  impudently 
brought  to  pass,  this  journey  of  Telemachus.  *We 
said  it  should  not  be.  Come,  then,  and  let  us  launch 
the  best  black  ship  we  have,  and  get  together  fisher- 
men for  rowers,  quickly  to  carry  tidings  to  our  friends, 
and  bid  them  sail  for  home  with  all  the  speed  they 
may." 

The  words  were  hardly  uttered  when  Amphinomus, 
turning  in  his  place,  sighted  the  ship  in  the  deep  har- 
bor, some  of  her  crew  furling  the  sail  and  some  with 
oars  in  hand.  Then  lightly  laughing,  thus  he  called 
to  his  companions : 

"  No  need  to  send  a  message  now,  for  here  they  are. 
Some  god  has  told  the  story ;  or  else  they  saw  the  ves- 
sel pass  and  could  not  catch  her." 

He  spoke,  and  all  arose  and  hastened  to  the  shore. 
Swiftly  the  black-hulled  ship  was  hauled  ashore,  and 
stately  squires  carried  their  armor.     The  men  them- 


XVI.  361-393.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  259 

selves  went  in  a  body  to  the  assembly  and  suffered  no 
one,  either  young  or  old,  to  join  them  there ;  and  thus 
Antinoiis,  Eupeithes'  son,  addressed  them : 

"  Strange,  how  the  gods  help  this  man  out  of  dan- 
ger !  By  day  our  sentries  sat  upon  the  windy  heights, 
posted  in  close  succession ;  and  after  sunset,  we  did 
not  pass  the  night  ashore,  but  sailed  our  swift  ship  on 
the  sea,  awaiting  sacred  dawn,  lying  in  wait  to  seize 
and  slay  Telemachus.  Meantime  some  god  has  brought 
him  home.  Then  let  us  here  contrive  a  miserable 
ending  for  Telemachus,  not  letting  him  escape  ;  for 
while  he  lives,  nothing,  be  sure,  will  prosper.  He 
is  himself  shrewd  in  his  thoughts  and  plans,  and  peo- 
ple here  proffer  us  no  more  aid.  Come  then,  be- 
fore he  gathers  the  Achaeans  in  a  council.  Back- 
ward he  will  not  be,  I  know.  He  will  be  full  of 
wrath,  and  rising  he  will  tell  to  all  how  we  contrived 
his  instant  death  but  could  not  catch  him.  And 
when  men  hear  our  evil  deeds,  they  will  not  praise 
them  ;  but  they  may  cause  us  trouble  and  drive  us 
from  our  country,  and  we  may  have  to  go  away  into 
the  land  of  strangers.  Let  us  be  quick,  then,  and 
seize  him  in  the  fields  far  from  the  city,  or  on  the 
road  at  least ;  and  let  us  take  possession  of  his  sub- 
stance and  his  wealth,  sharing  all  suitably  among  our- 
selves ;  the  house,  however,  we  might  let  his  mother 
keep,  or  him  who  marries  her.  If  this  plan  does  not 
please  you,  and  you  will  let  him  live  to  hold  his 
father's  fortune,  then  let  us  not  devour  his  store  of 
pleasant  things  by  gathering  here  ;  but  from  his  own 
abode  let  each  man  make  his  wooing,  and  press  his 
suit  with  gifts.  So  may  Penelope  marry  the  man  who 
gives  her  most  and  comes  with  fate  to  favor." 

As  he  thus  spoke,  the  rest  were  hushed  to  silence. 


260  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XVI.  394-424. 

But  Anipliinomus  addressed  them  now  and  said  — 
Amphinomus,  the  illustrious  son  of  noble  Nisus  and 
grandson  of  Aretias,  who  from  Doulichion,  rich  in 
wheat  and  grass,  had  led  a  band  of  suitors,  and  more 
than  all  the  rest  found  favor  with  Penelope  through 
what  he  said,  because  his  heart  was  upright  —  he  with 
good  will  addressed  them  thus  and  said : 

"  Nay,  friends,  I  would  not  like  to  kill  Telemachus. 
It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  kill  a  king.  Let  us  at  least 
first  ask  the  gods  for  counsel ;  and  if  the  oracles  of 
mighty  Zeus  approve,  I  will  myself  share  in  the  kill- 
ing and  urge  the  others  too ;  but  if  the  gods  turn  from 
us,  I  warn  you  to  forbear." 

So  said  Amphinomus,  and  his  saying  pleased  them. 
Soon  they  arose  and  entered  the  hall  of  Odysseus,  and 
went  and  took  their  seats  on  polished  chairs. 

Heedful  Penelope,  meanwhile,  had  planned  anew  to 
show  herself  among  the  suitors,  overweening  in  their 
pride.  Within  the  palace  she  learned  of  the  intended 
murder  of  her  son,  for  the  page  Medon  told  her,  who 
overheard  the  plot ;  so  to  the  hall  she  went  with  her 
attendant  women.  And  when  the  royal  lady  reached 
the  suitors,  she  stood  beside  a  column  of  the  strong- 
built  roof,  holding  before  her  face  her  delicate  wim- 
ple ;  and  she  rebuked  Antinoiis  and  spoke  to  him  and 
said : 

"  Antinoiis,  full  of  all  insolence  and  wicked  guile, 
in  Ithaca  they  say  you  are  the  foremost  person  of  your 
years  in  judgment  and  in  speech.  But  such  you  never 
were.  Madman  !  AVhy  do  you  seek  the  death  and 
ruin  of  Telemachus,  and  pay  no  heed  to  suppliants, 
though  Zeus  be  witness  for  them  ?  'T  is  impious  plot- 
ting crimes  against  one's  fellow  men.  Do  you  not 
know  your  father  once  took  refuge  here,  in  terror  of 


XVI.  425-459.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  261 

the  people  ?  For  they  were  very  angry  because  he 
joined  with  Taphian  pirates  and  troubled  the  Thespro- 
tians,  men  who  were  our  allies.  So  the  people  would 
destroy  him,  —  would  snatch  his  life  away,  and  swal- 
low all  his  large  and  pleasant  living  ;  but  Odysseus 
held  them  back  and  stayed  their  madness.  Yet  you 
insultingly  devour  his  house  ;  you  woo  his  wife,  mur- 
der his  child,  and  make  me  wholly  wretched.  For- 
bear, I  charge  you,  and  bid  the  rest  forbear  ! ' 

Then  answered  her  Eurymachus,  the  son  of  Poly- 
bus  :  "  Daughter  of  Icarius,  heedful  Penelope  ;  be  of 
good  courage  !  Let  not  these  things  vex  your  mind  ! 
The  man  is  not  alive,  and  never  will  be  born,  who 
shall  lay  hands  upon  your  son,  Telemachus,  so  long  as 
I  have  life  and  sight  on  earth.  For  this  I  tell  you, 
and  it  shall  be  done :  soon  the  dark  blood  of  such  a 
man  shall  flow  around  my  spear.  Many  a  time  the 
spoiler  of  towns,  Odysseus,  has  set  me  on  his  knee, 
put  roasted  meat  into  my  hands  and  given  me  ruddy 
wine.  Therefore  I  hold  Telemachus  dearest  of  all 
mankind.  I  bid  him  have  no  fear  of  death,  at  least 
not  from  the  suitors.  Death  from  the  gods  can  no 
man  shun." 

So  he  spoke,  cheering  her,  yet  was  himself  plotting 
the  murder.  But  she,  going  to  her  bright  upper  cham- 
ber, bewailed  Odysseus,  her  dear  husband,  till  on  her 
lids  clear-eyed  Athene  caused  a  sweet  sleep  to  fall. 

At  evening  the  noble  swineherd  joined  Odysseus 
and  his  son.  Busily  they  prepared  their  supper,  hav- 
ing killed  a  yearling  pig.  And  Athene,  drawing 
near,  touched  with  her  wand  Laertes'  son,  Odysseus, 
and  made  him  old  once  more  and  clad  him  in  mean 
clothes ;  for  fear  the  swineherd  looking  in  his  face 
might  know,  and  go  and  tell  the  tale  to  steadfast 
Penelope,  not  holding  fast  the  secret  in  his  heart. 


262  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XVI.  460-481. 

Now  Telemaelms  first  addressed  the  swineherd,  say- 
ing :  "So  you  are  come,  noble  Eumaeus.  What  news 
then  in  the  town  ?  Are  the  haughty  suitors  at  home 
again  after  their  ambuscade,  or  are  they  watching  still 
for  me  to  pass  ?  " 

Then,  swineherd  Eumaeus,  you  answered  him  and 
said :  "  I  had  no  mind  to  search  and  question  while 
stumbling  through  the  town.  My  inclination  bade 
me  to  tell  my  message  with  all  speed  and  hasten  home. 
There  overtook  me,  though,  an  eager  newsman  of 
your  crew,  a  page,  who  told  his  story  to  your  mother 
first.  Moreover,  this  I  know,  because  I  saw  it :  I  was 
already  on  the  road  above  the  town,  where  stands  the 
hill  of  Hermes,  when  I  saw  a  swift  ship  entering  our 
harbor.  A  crowd  of  men  were  on  her.  Heavy  she 
was  with  shields  and  double-pointed  spears.  'T  was 
they,  I  thought,  and  yet  I  do  not  know." 

As  he  thus  spoke,  revered  Telemaelms  smiled,  and 
glancing  at  his  father  shunned  the  swineherd's  eye. 

Now  ceasing  from  their  labor  of  laying  out  the 
meal,  they  fell  to  feasting.  There  was  no  lack  of  ap- 
petite for  the  impartial  feast.  And  after  they  had 
stayed  desire  for  drink  and  food,  they  turned  toward 
bed  and  took  the  gift  of  sleep. 


XVII. 

THE  RETURN  OF  TELEMACHUS  TO  ITHACA. 

Soon  as  the  early  rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared, 
Telemaclms,  the  son  of  princely  Odysseus,  bound  to 
his  feet  his  goodly  sandals,  took  the  ponderous  spear 
which  fitted  well  his  hand,  and  setting  off  to  town, 
addressed  his  swineherd  thus : 

"  Father,  I  go  to  the  city  to  let  my  mother  see  me ; 
for  I  know  she  will  not  cease  from  gloomy  grief  and 
crying  until  she  sees  my  very  self.  This  charge  I  lay 
on  you :  bring  the  poor  stranger  to  the  city,  to  beg  his 
living  there ;  and  whosoever  will  shall  give  a  cup  and 
crust.  I  cannot  put  up  all ;  my  heart  is  full  of  trou- 
ble. And  if  the  stranger  chafes  at  this,  so  much  the 
worse  for  him.     I  like  to  speak  the  truth." 

But  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said :  "  Friend, 
I  do  not  care  to  tarry  here.  Better  a  beggar  should 
bes;  his  living:  in  the  town  than  in  the  fields  ;  and  he 
who  will  may  give  ;  for  I  am  now  too  old  to  stay  about 
a  farm  and  answer  all  the  orders  of  an  overseer.  Go 
then  your  way;  this  man  shall  be  my  guide,  even 
as  you  bid,  when  I  have  warmed  me  at  the  fire  and 
when  the  sunshine  comes.  The  clothes  I  wear  are 
miserably  bad,  and  the  early  frost  may  harm  me ;  the 
town  is  far,  they  say." 

He  spoke,  and  through  the  farm-stead  passed  Tele- 
machus,  moving  with  rapid  stride  and  sowing  seeds 
of  evil  for  the  suitors.     And  when  he  reached  his 


264  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XVII.  27-62. 

stately  dwelling,  he  took  his  spear  and  set  it  up  by  a 
tall  pillar,  while  he  himself  went  farther  in  and  over 
the  stone  threshold. 

His  nurse  was  first  to  see  him,  Eurycleia,  now  busy 
spreading  fleeces  on  the  carven  chairs.  With  a 
burst  of  tears  she  came  straight  forward  ;  and  other 
maids  of  hardy  Odysseus  gathered  round  and  fondly 
kissed  his  face  and  neck.  Then  from  her  chamber 
came  heedful  Penelope,  like  Artemis  or  golden  Aphro- 
dite. Round  her  dear  son,  weeping,  she  threw  her 
arms,  and  kissed  his  face  and  both  his  beauteous  eyes, 
and  sobbing  said  to  him  in  winged  words : 

'*  So  you  are  come,  Telemachus,  my  own  sweet 
light !  I  said  I  should  not  see  you  any  more  after 
you  went  away  by  ship  to  Pylos,  so  secretly,  with  no 
consent  of  mine,  to  hear  about  your  father.  Come 
then  and  tell  me  all  you  chanced  to  see." 

But  wise  Telemachus  made  answer  :  "  My  mother, 
do  not  stir  my  tears  nor  move  my  heart  within,  for  I 
am  only  now  escaped  from  utter  ruin.  But  bathe,  and 
putting  on  fresh  garments,  go  to  your  upper  chamber 
with  your  maids,  and  vow  to  pay  full  hecatombs  to  all 
the  gods  if  Zeus  some  day  will  grant  us  deeds  of  ven- 
geance. But  I  will  go  to  the  market-place  to  call  a 
stranger  who  joined  me  on  my  journey  here  from 
Pylos.  I  sent  him  forward  with  my  gallant  crew  and 
bade  Peiraeus  take  him  home  and  entertain  him  well 
and  give  him  honor  till  the  time  that  I  should  come." 

Such  were  his  words ;  unwinged,  they  rested  with 
her.  Bathing,  and  putting  on  fresh"  garments,  she 
vowed  to  all  the  gods  to  pay  full  hecatombs  if  Zeus 
some  day  would  grant  her  deeds  of  vengeance. 

Presently  through  the  hall  forth  went  Telemachus, 
his  spear  in  hand,  two  swift  dogs  following  after ;  and 


XVII.  63-95.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  265 

marvelous  was  the  grace  Athene  cast  about  him,  that 
all  the  people  gazed  as  he  drew  near.  And  round  him 
flocked  the  haughty  suitors,  kind  in  their  talk  but  in 
their  hearts  brooding  on  evil.  He  turned  aside  from 
the  great  company  of  these  and  off  where  Mentor 
sat  with  Antiphus  and  Halitherses,  who  were  of  old 
his  father's  friends,  he  went  and  sat  him  down ;  and 
much  they  questioned.  Peiraeus,  the  famous  spear- 
man, now  drew  near,  leading  the  stranger  through  the 
city  to  the  market-place.  Not  long  then  from  his 
guest  delayed  Telemachus,  but  came  to  meet  him ; 
though  Peiraeus  was  the  first  to  speak  and  say : 

"  Telemachus,  quickly  send  women  to  my  house, 
and  let  me  send  to  you  what  Menelaus  gave." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  Peiraeus, 
as  yet  we  do  not  know  how  matters  here  will  be. 
Suppose  the  haughty  suitors  at  the  palace  should  slay 
me  privily  and  share  my  father's  goods,  I  had  rather 
you  yourself  should  keep  and  enjoy  the  gifts  than 
any  one  of  these.  But  if  I  sow  for  these  men  death 
and  doom,  when  I  am  merry  merrily  fetch  all  here." 

So  saying,  he  led  the  way-worn  stranger  home. 
And  entering  the  stately  buildings,  they  threw  their 
coats  upon  the  couches  and  the  chairs,  and  went  to  the 
polished  baths  and  bathed.  And  when  the  maids  had 
bathed  them  and  anointed  them  with  oil,  and  put 
upon  them  fleecy  coats  and  tunics,  out  of  the  baths 
they  came  and  sat  upon  the  couches.  And  water  for 
the  hands  a  servant  brought  in  a  beautiful  pitcher 
made  of  gold,  and  poured  it  out  over  a  silver  basin 
for  their  washing,  and  spread  a  polished  table  by 
their  side.  Then  the  grave  housekeeper  brought 
bread  and  placed  before  them,  setting  out  food  of 
many  a  kind,  freely  giving  of  her  store.     The  mother 


266  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XVII.  96-130. 

of  Telemachus  sat  on  the  farther  side,  by  a  column  of 
the  hall,  resting  upon  a  couch,  spinning  fine  threads 
of  yarn.  So  on  the  food  spread  out  before  them  they 
laid  hands.  And  after  they  had  stayed  desire  for 
drink  and  food,  then  thus  began  heedful  Penelope  : 

"  Telemachus,  I  go  to  my  upper  chamber  and  lay 
me  on  my  bed,  —  which  has  become  for  me  a  bed  of 
sorrows,  ever  watered  with  my  tears  since  Odysseus 
went  away  to  Ilios  with  the  Atreidae,  —  because  you 
did  not  deign  before  the  haughty  suitors  entered, 
plainly  to  tell  what  tidings  you  have  heard  about  your 
father's  coming." 

Then  answered  her  discreet  Telemachus :  "  Nay, 
mother,  I  will  tell  you  all  the  truth.  We  went  to 
Pylos,  to  Nestor,  the  shepherd  of  the  people.  And 
he,  receiving  me  within  his  lofty  palace,  gave  me  such 
hearty  welcome  as  a  father  gives  his  child  when  lately 
come  from  far,  after  long  time  away ;  so  heartily  he 
entertained  me,  he  and  his  noble  sons.  Of  hardy 
Odysseus,  he  said  he  had  not  heard  from  any  man  on 
earth,  if  he  were  alive  or  dead.  But  with  horses  and 
a  strong-built  chariot  he  sent  me  to  the  son  of  Atreus, 
to  the  spearman  Menelaus.  There  I  saw  Argive 
Helen,  her  in  behalf  of  whom  Argives  and  Trojans 
bore  so  much  at  the  gods'  bidding.  And  Menelaus, 
good  at  the  war-cry,  soon  asked  me  on  what  errand  I 
came  to  royal  Lacedaemon.  I  told  him  all  the  truth. 
And  then  he  answered  thus  and  said  to  me :  '  Hea- 
vens !  In  a  very  brave  man's  bed  they  sought  to  lie, 
the  weaklings  !  As  when  in  the  den  of  a  strong  lion 
a  hind  has  laid  asleep  her  new-born  sucking  fawns, 
then  roams  the  slopes  and  grassy  hollows  seeking  food, 
and  by  and  by  into  his  lair  the  lion  comes  and  on  both 
hind  and  fawns  brings  ghastly  doom  ;  so  shall  Odys- 


XVII.  131-163.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  267 

sens  bring  a  ghastly  doom  on  these.  Ah  father  Zens, 
Athene,  and  Apollo  !  if  with  the  power  he  showed  one 
day  in  stately  Lesbos,  when  he  rose  and  wrestled  in  a 
match  with  Philomeleides,  and  down  he  threw  him 
heavily  while  the  Achaeans  all  rejoiced,  —  if  as  he 
was  that  day  Odysseus  now  might  meet  the  suitors, 
they  all  would  find  quick  turns  of  fate  and  bitter 
rites  of  marriage.  But  as  to  what  you  ask  thus 
urgently,  I  will  not  turn  to  talk  of  other  things  and 
so  deceive  you  ;  but  what  the  unerring  old  man  of 
the  sea  told  me,  in  not  a  word  will  I  disguise  or  hide 
from  you.  He  said  he  saw  Odysseus  on  an  island,  in 
great  distress,  at  the  hall  of  the  nymph  Calypso,  who 
holds  him  there  by  force.  No  power  has  he  to  reach 
his  native  land,  for  he  has  no  ships  fitted  with  oars, 
nor  crews  to  bear  him  over  the  broad  ocean-ridges.' 
So  said  the  son  of  Atreus,  the  spearman  Menelaus. 
And  this  accomplished,  back  I  sailed ;  the  gods  gave 
breezes  and  brought  me  swiftly  to  my  native  land." 

So  he  spoke,  and  stirred  the  heart  within  her  breast. 
But  god-like  Theoclymenus  addressed  them  thus  :  "  O 
honored  wife  of  Laertes'  son  Odysseus,  certainly  Me- 
nelaus did  not  know  the  truth.  Listen  instead  to 
words  of  mine ;  for  I  will  plainly  prophesy  and  not 
conceal.  First  then  of  all  the  gods  be  witness  Zeus, 
and  let  this  hospitable  table  and  the  hearth  of  good 
Odysseus  whereto  I  come  be  witness ;  Odysseus  is  al- 
ready within  his  native  land,  —  biding  his  time  or 
moving,  —  and,  understanding  all  these  wicked  deeds, 
is  sowing  seeds  of  ill  for  all  the  suitors.  As  proof, 
while  on  the  well-benched  ship  I  marked  a  bird  of 
omen,  and  I  announced  it  to  Telemachus." 

Then  said  to  him  heedful  Penelope  :  "  Ah  stranger, 
would  these  words  of  yours  might  be  fulfilled !     Soon 


268  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XVII.  164-196. 

should  you  know  my  kindness  and  many  a  gift  from 
me,  and  every  man  you  met  would  call  you  blessed/' 

So  they  conversed  together.  Meanwhile  before  the 
ualace  of  Odysseus  the  suitors  were  making  merry, 
throwing  the  discus  and  the  hunting-spear  upon  the 
level  pavement,  holding  riot  as  of  old.  But  now  when 
it  was  dinner-time,  and  from  the  fields  around  the 
flocks  returned, —  the  shepherds  leading  who  were 
wont  to  lead, —  then  Medon  spoke  ;  a  man  most  loved 
of  all  the  pages,  one  who  was  ever  present  at  their 
feasts  : 

"  Now,  lads,  since  all  your  hearts  are  cheered  with 
sports,  come  to  the  house  and  let  us  lay  the  table. 
One's  dinner  at  the  proper  time  is  no  bad  thing." 

He  spoke,  and  up  they  sprang  and  went  to  heed  his 
words.  And  entering  the  stately  buildings,  they  threw 
their  coats  upon  the  couches  and  chairs,  and  they  be- 
gan to  kill  great  sheep  and  fatted  goats,  to  kill  sleek 
pigs  and  the  heifer  of  the  herd,  and  so  to  make  their 
meal. 

Meanwhile  at  the  farm  Odysseus  and  the  noble 
swineherd  were  making  ready  to  depart  to  town.  And 
thus  began  the  swineherd,  the  overseer  :  "  Stranger, 
so  you  desire  to  go  to  town  to-day,  just  as  my  master 
ordered,  though  I  myself  would  rather  leave  you  as  a 
watchman  for  the  farm  ;  but  of  him  I  stand  in  fear 
and  awe,  lest  he  hereafter  chide  me.  Hard  is  a  mas- 
ter's censure.  Come  then  and  let  us  go.  The  day  is 
passing.     It  will  be  colder  by  and  by  toward  night." 

Then  wise  Odvsseus  answered  him  and  said :  "  I 
see,  I  understand  ;  you  speak  to  one  who  knows.  Let 
us  go  on,  and  all  the  way  be  you  my  guide.  But  give 
me  a  stick,  if  you  have  one  cut,  to  lean  upon ;  for 
you  said  the  road  was  very  rough." 


XVII.  197-229.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  269 

He  sjioke,  and  round  his  shoulders  slung  his  misera- 
ble wallet,  full  of  holes,  which  hung-  upon  a  cord. 
Euniaeus  gave  the  staff  desired,  and  so  the  two  set 
forth ;  but  dogs  and  herdsmen  stayed  behind  to  keep 
the  farm.  On  to  the  town  Eumaeus  led  his  lord,  like 
an  old  and  wretched  beggar,  leaning  upon  a  staff. 
Upon  his  back  were  miserable  clothes. 

Now  as  they  walked  along  the  rugged  road,  near- 
ing  the  city,  they  reached  a  stone-built  fountain,  run- 
ning clear,  from  which  the  towns  -  folk  draw  their 
water,  a  fountain  made  by  Ithacus,  by  Neritus  and 
Polyctor.  There  was  a  grove  of  stream-fed  poplars, 
encircling  it,  and  from  the  rock  above  ran  the  cool 
water,  while  at  the  top  was  built  an  altar  to  the 
nymphs,  where  all  who  passed  made  offerings.  Here 
the  son  of  Dolius,  Melantheus,  met  them,  driving  the 
goats  that  were  the  best  of  all  the  flock,  to  make  the 
suitors'  dinner.  Two  herdsmen  followed  after.  See- 
ing Eumaeus  and  Odysseus,  he  broke  into  abuse ;  and 
speaking  to  them,  used  rude  and  indecent  words,  which 
stirred  Odysseus'  blood : 

"  Now  sure  enough  the  vile  man  leads  the  vile  ! 
As  ever,  god  brings  like  and  like  together !  Where 
are  you  carrying  that  glutton,  you  good-for-nothing 
swineherd,  that  nasty  beggar  to  make  mischief  at 
our  feasts  ?  A  man  to  stand  and  rub  his  back  on 
many  doors  and  tease  for  scraps  of  food,  but  not  for 
swords  and  caldrons.  If  you  would  let  me  have  him 
for  a  watchman  at  my  farm,  to  be  a  stable-cleaner 
and  fetch  fodder  to  the  kids,  he  might  by  drinking 
whey  grow  a  big  thigh.  But  no !  For  he  has  learned 
bad  ways  and  will  not  turn  to  work.  He  will  prefer 
to  beg  about  the  town,  teasing  for  stuff  to  feed  his 
greedy   maw.     But  this  I  tell  you,  and  it  shall  be 


270  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XVII.  230-259. 

done :  if  he  comes  near  the  house  of  princely  Odys- 
seus, many  a  footstool  from  men's  hands  flying  around 
his  head  his  ribs  shall  rub,  as  he  is  knocked  about  the 
house." 

He  spoke,  and  as  he  passed  recklessly  kicked  Odys- 
seus on  the  hip,  but  did  not  force  him  from  the 
pathway.  Fixed  he  stood.  Odysseus  doubted  whether 
to  spring  and  with  his  cudgel  take  his  life,  or  to  lift 
him  in  the  air  and  dash  his  head  upon  the  ground. 
But  he  was  patient,  and  by  thought  restrained  him- 
self. And  now  the  swineherd,  looking  him  in  the 
face,  rebuked  the  man  and  stretching  forth  his  hands 
prayed  thus  aloud  : 

"  Nymphs  of  the  fountain,  daughters  of  Zeus,  if  ever 
Odysseus  burned  on  thy  altars  thighs  of  lambs  and 
kids,  and  wrapped  them  in  rich  fat,  grant  this  my 
prayer !  May  he  return  and  Heaven  be  his  guide  ! 
Then  would  he  scatter  all  the  smartness  you  now  reck- 
lessly assume,  roaming  continually  around  the  town, 
while  careless  herdsmen  let  the  flock  decay/' 

Then  answered  him  Melanthius  the  goatherd  :  "  So, 
so!  How  the  cur  talks,  as  if  he  knew  some  magic 
arts !  Some  day  1 11  take  him  on  a  black  and  well- 
benched  ship  far  off  from  Ithaca,  and  get  me  a  great 
fortune.  Oh  that  Apollo  of  the  silver  bow  would 
smite  Telemachus  at  home  to-day,  or  let  him  fall  be- 
fore the  suitors,  as  certainly  as  for  Odysseus,  far  in 
foreign  lands,  the  day  of  coming  home  is  lost ! ' 

So  saying,  he  left  them  slowly  plodding  on,  and  off 
he  went  and  soon  he  came  to  the  king's  palace.  He  en- 
tered at  once  and  took  his  seat  among  the  suitors  over 
against  Eurymachus,  for  he  liked  him  best  of  all. 
Then  those  who  served  passed  him  a  portion  of  the 
meat,  while  the  grave  housekeeper  brought  bread  and 


XVII.  260-292.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  271 

set  before  him,  for  him  to  eat.  Meantime  Odysseus 
and  the  noble  swineherd  halted  as  they  drew  near, 
while  round  them  came  notes  of  the  hollow  lyre ; 
for  Phemius  lifted  up  his  voice  to  sing  before  the 
suitors.  And  taking  the  swineherd  by  the  hand, 
Odysseus  said  : 

"  Surely,  Eumaeus,  this  is  the  goodly  palace  of  Odys- 
seus, easy  to  notice  even  among  many.  Building  joins 
building  here.  The  court  is  built  with  wall  and  cor- 
nice,  and  a  double  gate  protects.  No  man  may  scorn 
it.  I  notice  too  that  a  great  company  are  banqueting 
writhin  ;  for  the  savory  steam  mounts  up,  and  in  the 
house  resounds  the  lyre,  made  by  the  gods  the  fellow 
of  the  feast." 

And,  swineherd  Eumaeus,  you  answered  him  and 
said :  "  You  notice  quickly,  dull  of  thought  in  no- 
thing. Come  then  and  let  us  plan  what  we  must  do. 
You  enter  the  stately  buildings  first  and  mingle  with 
the  suitors,  while  I  stay  here  behind  ;  or  if  you  like, 
wait  you,  and  I  will  go.  But  do  not  linger  long,  or 
somebody  may  spy  you  at  the  door  and  throw  a  stone 
or  strike  you.     Take  care,  I  say  ! ' 

Then  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  answered :  "  I  see, 
I  understand ;  you  speak  to  one  who  knows.  But  go 
you  on  before,  I  will  stay  here  behind :  for  I  am  not 
unused  to  blows  and  missiles.  Stanch  is  my  soul ; 
for  many  dangers  have  I  borne  from  waves  and  war. 
To  those  let  this  be  added.  Yet  I  cannot  disregard  a 
gnawing  belly,  the  pest  which  brings  so  many  ills  to 
men.  To  ease  it,  timbered  ships  are  fitted  and  carry 
woe  to  foemen  over  barren  seas." 

So  they  conversed  together.  But  a  dog  lying  near 
lifted  his  head  and  ears.  Argos  it  was,  the  dog  of 
hardy  Odysseus,  whom  long  ago  he  reared  but  never 


272  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XVII.  293-327. 

used.  Before  the  dog  was  grown,  Odysseus  went  to 
sacred  Ilios.  In  the  times  past  young  men  would  take 
him  on  the  chase,  for  wild  goats,  deer,  and  hares ;  but 
now  he  lay  neglected,  his  master  gone  away,  upon  the 
pile  of  dung  which  had  been  dropped  before  the  door 
by  mules  and  oxen,  and  which  lay  there  in  a  heap  for 
slaves  to  carry  off  and  dung  the  broad  lands  of  Odys- 
seus. Here  lay  the  dog,  this  Argos,  full  of  fleas.  Yet 
even  now,  seeing  Odysseus  near,  he  wagged  his  tail 
and  dropped  both  ears,  but  toward  his  master  he  had 
not  strength  to  move.  Odysseus  turned  aside  and 
wiped  away  a  tear,  swiftly  concealing  from  Eumaeus 
what  he  did ;  then  straightway  thus  he  questioned  : 

"  Eumaeus,  it  is  strange  this  dog  lies  on  the  dung- 
hill. His  form  is  good  ;  but  I  am  not  sure  if  he  has 
speed  of  foot  to  match  his  beauty,  or  if  he  is  merely 
what  the  table-dogs  become  which  masters  keep  for 
show." 

And,  swineherd  Eumaeus,  you  answered  him  and 
said  :  "Aye  truly,  that  is  the  dog  of  one  who  died 
afar.  If  he  were  as  good  in  form  and  action  as  when 
Odysseus  left  him  and  went  away  to  Troy,  you  would 
be  much  surprised  to  see  his  speed  and  strength.  For 
nothing  could  escape  him  in  the  forest-depths,  no  crea- 
ture that  he  started  ;  he  was  keen  upon  the  scent. 
Now  he  has  come  to  ill.  In  a  strange  land  his  master 
perished,  and  the  slack  women  give  him  no  more  care  ; 
for  slaves,  when  masters  lose  control,  will  not  attend  to 
duties.  Ah,  half  the  value  of  a  man  far-seeing  Zeus 
destroys  when  the  slave's  lot  befalls  him  !  " 

So  saying,  he  entered  the  stately  house  and  went 
straight  down  the  hall  among  the  lordly  suitors.  But 
upon  Argos  fell  the  doom  of  darksome  death  when  he 
beheld  Odysseus,  twenty  years  away. 


XVII.  328-357.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  273 

By  far  the  first  to  see  the  swineherd  as  he  walked 
along  the  hall  was  princely  Telemaclms,  and  he  quick- 
ly gave  a  nod  to  call  him  to  his  side.  Glancing 
around,  Eumaeus  took  a  stool  which  stood  at  hand, 
where  the  carver  sat  at  feasts  within  the  hall  when 
carving  for  the  suitors  the  many  joints  of  meat ;  car- 
rying the  stool  to  the  table  of  Telemachus,  he  placed 
it  on  the  farther  side  and  there  sat  down.  And  then 
a  page  took  up  a  dish  of  meat  and  passed  it,  and  from 
the  basket  gave  him  also  bread. 

Close  following  after,  Odysseus  entered  the  palace, 
like  an  old  and  wretched  beggar  leaning  upon  a  staff. 
Upon  his  back  were  miserable  clothes.  He  sat  down 
on  the  ash-wood jthreshold  just  within  the  door,  lean- 
ing against  the  cypress  post  which  long  ago  the  car- 
penter had  smoothed  with  skill  and  leveled  to  the  line. 
But  to  the  swineherd  said  Telemachus,  calling  him  to 
his  side  and  taking  a  whole  loaf  from  the  goodly  bas- 
ket and  also  all  the  meat  his  hands  stretched  wide 
would  hold  : 

"  Take  this  and  give  the  stranger,  and  bid  him  move 
about  and  beg  of  all  the  suitors.  Shyness  is  no  good 
comrade  for  a  needy  man." 

He  spoke,  and  the  swineherd  went  as  soon  as  he 
heard  the  order,  and  standing  by  Odysseus  said  in 
winged  words  :  "  Stranger,  Telemachus  gives  this,  and 
bids  you  move  about  and  beg  of  all  the  suitors. 
Shyness,  he  says,   is  no   good  comrade  for  a  beggar 


man?" 


Then  answering  him,  said  wise  Odysseus  :  "  O  Zeus 
above,  may  Telemachus  be  blessed  among  mankind, 
and  may  he  get  whatever  in  his  heart  he  longs  for  !  ' 

He  spoke,  and  took  the  food  with  both  his  hands 
and  laid  it  down  before  his  feet  on  his  mean  wallet, 


274  THE   ODYSSEY.         [XVII.  358-388. 

and  so  ate,  the  while  within  the  hall  the  bard  was 
sin  sins'.  But  when  the  meal  was  ended  and  the  sa- 
cred  bard  had  ceased,  the  suitors  raised  an  uproar  in 
the  hall.  And  now  Athene,  drawing  near  Laertes' 
son,  Odysseus,  urged  him  to  gather  crusts  among 
the  suitors,  and  learn  who  were  the  righteous  ones 
and  who  the  lawless ;  though  not  even  thus  would  she 
preserve  a  man  of  them  from  ruin.  So  off  he  went 
to  beg  of  all  from  left  to  right,  stretching  his  hand 
around  as  if  he  had  been  long  a  beggar.  They  pitied 
him  and  gave,  and  wondering  at  the  man  asked  one 
another  who  he  was  and  whence  he  came  ;  and  Me- 
lanthius,  the  goatherd,  said  : 

"  Hear  from  me,  suitors  of  the  illustrious  queen, 
something  about  the  stranger.  I  saw  him  a  while  ago  ; 
and  certainly  it  was  the  swineherd  brought  him  hither. 
The  man  himself  I  do  not  really  know,  nor  of  what 
tribe  he  boasts  himself  to  be." 

When  he  had  spoken,  Antinoiis  rebuked  the  swine- 
herd thus  :  "  Infamous  swineherd,  why  bring  this  man 
to  town  ?  Have  we  not  here  already  plenty  of  vaga- 
bonds and  nasty  beggars  to  make  mischief  at  our 
feasts  ?  Do  you  not  mind  that  men  devour  the  living 
of  their  lord  by  gathering  here?  And  do  you  ask 
this  fellow  too  to  come  ?  " 

Then,  swineherd  Eumaeus,  you  answered  him  and 
said :  "  Antinoiis,  you  speak  but  ill,  noble  although 
you  are.  Who  ever  goes  and  calls  a  stranger  from 
abroad  ?  Unless  indeed  the  stranger  is  a  lBerof 
some  craft,  a  prophet,  healer  of  disease,  or  builder, 
or  else  a  wondrous  bard  who  pleases  by  his  song  ;  for 
these  are  welcomed  by  mankind  the  wide  world 
through.  A  beggar,  wrho  would  ask  to  be  a  torment 
to  himself  ?     But  you  are  always  harsh  —  more  than 


XVII.  389-420.]         THE   ODYSSEY.  275 

the  other  suitors, —  to  the  servants  of  Odysseus,  es- 
pecially to  me.  And  yet  I  do  not  care,  so  long  as  heed- 
ful Penelope  is  living  in  the  palace,  Penelope  and 
prince  Telemachus." 

Then  said  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  Hush !  Do  not 
make  him  a  long  answer.  It  is  Antinous'  way  ever  to 
tease  with  ugly  talk.     He  stirs  up  others  too." 

He  spoke,  and  to  Antinous  in  winged  words  he  said : 
u  Antinous,  finely  you  care  for  me,  as  a  father  for  his 
son,  bidding  me  drive  this  stranger  forth  by  a  com- 
pulsive word  !  God  let  that  never  be  !  Take  of  the 
food  and  give  him.  I  do  not  grudge  it;  indeed  I 
bid  you  give.  Be  not  disquieted  about  my  mother  or 
any  servant  of  the  house  of  great  Odysseus.  But  in 
your  breast  there  is  no  thought  of  giving.  Far  better 
you  like  to  eat  than  give  to  others." 

Then  answering  said  Antinous  :  "  Telemachus,  of 
the  lofty  tongue  and  the  unbridled  temper,  what  do 
you  mean  ?  If  every  suitor  gave  as  much  as  I,  for 
three  months'  space  at  least  the  house  would  miss  him." 

So  saying,  he  seized  his  stool  and  drew  it  out  from 
under  the  table  where  it  lay.  On  it  he  used  to  set 
his  dainty  feet  while  feasting.  Now  all  the  rest 
had  given  food  and  filled  with  bread  and  meat  the 
beggar's  wallet.  A  moment  and  Odysseus  would  go 
back  to  the  threshold  to  taste  the  Achaeans'  bounty. 
Before  Antinous  he  paused,  and  said  : 

"  Give  me  some  food,  kind  sir  !  You  do  not  seem 
the  poorest  of  the  Achaeans  ;  rather,  the  chief ;  for 
you  are  like  a  king.  So  you  shall  give  me  bread 
more  generously  than  others,  and  I  will  sing  your 
praise  the  wide  world  through.  For  once  I  lived  in 
luxury  among  my  mates,  in  a  rich  house,  and  often 
gave   to  wanderers,   careless  who  they  might  be   or 


276  THE   ODYSSEY.        [XVII.  421-452. 

with  what  needs  they  came.  Servants  I  had  in  plenty, 
and  everything  besides  by  which  men  live  at  ease 
and  are  reputed  rich.  But  Zeus,  the  son  of  Kronos, 
brought  me  low.  His  will  it  was.  He  sent  me  with 
a  roving  band  of  plunderers  to  Egypt,  a  long  voyage, 
to  my  ruin.  In  Egypt's  stream  I  anchored  my  curved 
ships  ;  then  to  my  trusty  men  I  gave  command  to  stay 
there  by  the  ships  and  guard  the  ships,  while  I  sent 
scouts  to  points  of  observation.  But  giving  way  to 
lawlessness  and  following  their  own  bent,  they  pres- 
ently began  to  pillage  the  fair  fields  of  the  Egyp- 
tians, carrying  off  wives  and  infant  children  and 
slaughtering  the  men.  Soon  the  din  reached  the 
city.  The  people  there,  hearing  the  shouts,  came 
forth  at  early  dawn,  and  all  the  plain  was  filled  with 
footmen  and  with  horsemen  and  with  the  gleam  of 
bronze.  Then  Zeus,  the  Thunderer,  brought  on  my 
men  a  cruel  panic,  and  none  dared  stand  and  face 
the  foe.  Danger  encountered  us  on  every  side.  So 
the  Egyptians  slew  many  of  our  men  with  the  sharp 
sword,  and  carried  others  off  alive  to  work  for  them 
in  bondage.  They  gave  me  to  a  friend  who  chanced 
to  meet  them  upon  his  way  to  Cyprus,  to  Dmetor  son 
of  Iasus,  who  ruled  with  power  in  Cyprus.  Thence 
I  am  now  come  hither,  sore  distressed." 

Then  answered  him  Antinoiis  and  said :  "  What 
god  has  brought  to  us  this  pest,  this  mar-feast  here  ? 
Stand  off  there  in  the  middle,  back  from  my  table,  or 
you  shall  find  a  bitter  Egypt  and  a  bitter  Cyprus 
too,  brazen  and  shameless  beggar  that  you  are  !  You 
go  to  all  in  turn,  and  they  give  lavishly.  No  scruple 
or  compunction  do  they  feel  at  being  generous  with 
others'  goods,  while  there  remains  abundance  for 
themselves." 


XVII.  453-485.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  211 

Then  stepping  back  said  wise  Odysseus  :  "  Indeed ! 
In  jou  then  wisdom  does  not  go  with  beauty.  From 
your  own  house  you  would  not  give  a  suppliant  salt, 
if  sitting  at  another's  table  you  will  not  take  and  give 
me  bread.     Yet  here  there  is  abundance." 

As  he  thus  spoke,  Antinous  was  angered  in  his 
heart  the  more,  and  looking  sternly  on  him  said  in 
winged  words :  "  Now  you  shall  never  leave  the  hall  in 
peace,  I  think,  now  you  have  taunted  me." 

So  saying,  he  seized  his  footstool,  flung  it  and  struck 
Odysseus  on  the  back  of  the  right  shoulder,  near  the 
spine.  Firm  as  a  rock  he  stood  ;  the  missile  of  Anti- 
nous  did  not  move  him.  Silent  he  shook  his  head, 
brooding  on  evil.  Then  once  more  walking  toward 
the  threshold,  down  he  sat,  laid  off  his  well-filled 
wallet,  and  thus  addressed  the  suitors : 

"  Hearken,  you  suitors  of  the  illustrious  queen,  and 
let  me  tell  you  what  the  heart  within  me  bids.  One 
feels  no  smart  or  indignation  in  his  mind  if  struck 
while  fighting  for  his  own  possessions,  his  oxen,  say, 
or  white-wooled  sheep ;  but  Antinous  gave  this  blow 
because  of  my  poor  belly,  that  wretched  part  which 
brings  to  men  so  many  ills.  If  then  for  beggars  there 
be  gods  and  furies,  may  death's  doom  seize  Antinous 
before  his  marriage." 

Then  said  Antinous,  Eupeithes'  son :  "  Stranger, 
sit  still  and  eat,  or  go  off  elsewhere ;  or  for  such  talk 
as  this  young  men  will  drag  you  through  the  house 
by  hand  and  foot,  and  strip  off  all  your  skin." 

At  these  his  words  all  were  exceeding  wroth,  and 
a  rude  youth  would  say  :  "  Antinous,  't  was  not  well 
done  to  assault  the  wretched  wanderer.  A  doomed 
man  you,  if  he  should  be  a  god  come  down  from 
heaven.     And  gods  in  guise  of  strangers  from  afar 


278  THE   ODYSSEY.         [XVII.  486-518. 

in  every  form  do  roam  our  cities,  marking  the  sin 
and  righteousness  of  men." 

So  said  the  suitors  ;  Antinoiis  did  not  heed  their 
words.  But  Telemachus  nursed  in  his  heart  great  in- 
dignation at  the  blow,  yet  let  no  tear  fall  from  his 
eyelids  to  the  ground.  Silent  he  shook  his  head, 
brooding  on  evil. 

When  heedful  Penelope  heard  how  in  the  hall  a 
man  was  struck,  she  said  to  her  maids :  "  May  the 
archer-god  Apollo  strike  you  even  so  !  '  Whereat 
Eurynome  the  housekeeper  made  answer :  "  If  only 
prayers  of  ours  might  be  fulfilled,  no  one  of  them 
should  see  another  bright- throned  dawn." 

And  heedful  Penelope  replied :  "  Nurse,  hateful  are 
they  all ;  their  ways  are  evil ;  but  Antinoiis  is  like 
dark  doom  itself.  Into  the  house  strays  some  poor 
stranger,  and  begs  for  bread,  as  need  compels ;  then 
while  all  others  gave  and  filled  his  wallet,  Antinoiis 
struck  him  with  a  footstool  on  the  back  of  the  right 
shoulder." 

So  talked  Penelope  with  her  maids  as  she  sat  within 
a  chamber,  while  royal  Odysseus  was  busied  with  his 
meal.  Then  calling  the  noble  swineherd,  thus  she 
spoke  :  "  Go,  noble  Eumaeus,  go  bid  the  stranger 
come  to  me.  I  wish  to  greet  him  and  to  ask  if  he 
has  heard  of  hardy  Odysseus  or  writh  his  own  eyes 
seen  him.     He  looks  a  traveled  man." 

Then,  swineherd  Eumaeus,  you  answered  her  and 
said:  "  Would,  queen,  the  Achaeans  would  be  still! 
What  he  can  tell  would  charm  your  very  soul.  Three 
nights  I  had  him ;  for  three  days  I  kept  him  at  the 
lodge  ;  he  came  to  me  at  once  on  escaping  from  his 
vessel.  Yet  all  that  time  he  never  ended  telling  me 
his   troubles.     And   just   as   when  men  gaze  upon  a 


XVII.  519-551.]         THE   ODYSSEY.  279 

bard  who  has  been  taught  by  gods  to  sing  them  mov- 
ing lays,  and  they  long  to  listen  endlessly  so  long  as 
the  bard  will  sing ;  even  so  he  held  me  spell-bound  as 
he  sat  within  my  room.  He  calls  Odysseus  his  ances- 
tral friend,  and  says  his  home  is  Crete,  where  the  race 
of  Minos  dwell.  Thence  he  is  now  come  hither,  sore 
distressed  and  onward  driven  ever.  He  declares  he 
has  heard  that  Odysseus  is  near  at  hand,  in  the  rich 
land  of  the  Thesprotians,  a  living  man,  and  that  he 
brings  a  mass  of  treasure  home." 

Then  said  to  him  heedful  Penelope  :  "  Go  call  him 
hither,  to  tell  his  story  here  before  my  face.  Let  men 
make  merry,  sitting  before  the  door,  or  here  within 
the  house.  Their  hearts  are  gay.  Untouched  at  home 
their  goods  are  lying,  their  bread  and  their  sweet  wine. 
On  these  their  servants  feed.  But  haunting  this 
house  of  ours  day  after  day,  killing  our  oxen,  sheep, 
and  fatted  goats,  these  suitors  hold  high  revel,  drink- 
ing sparkling  wine  with  little  heed.  Much  goes  to 
waste ;  for  there  is  no  man  here  fit,  like  Odysseus,  to 
keep  damage  from  our  doors.  But  if  Odysseus  should 
return,  home  to  his  native  land,  soon  with  his  son's 
help  he  would  punish  these  men's  crimes." 

As  she  spoke  thus,  Telemachus  s£e£ze*Houdly,  and 
all  the  hall  gave  a  great  echo.  Penelope  laughed, 
and  to  Eumaeus  straightway  said  in  winged  words  : 
u  Pray  go  and  call  the  stranger  before  me,  as  I  bade. 
Do  you  not  notice  how  my  son  sneezed  at  my  words  ? 
Therefore  no  partial  death  shall  strike  the  suitors. 
On  all  it  falls  ;  none  shall  escape  from  death  and 
doom.  Nay,  this  I  will  say  farther  ;  mark  it  well :  if 
I  shall  find  that  all  the  stranger  tells  is  true,  I  will 
clothe  him  in  a  coat  and  tunic,  goodly  garments." 

She  spoke,  and  the  swineherd  went  as  soon  as  he 


280  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XVII.  552-584. 

heard  the  order,  and  standing  near  the  stranger  said 
in  winged  words :  "  Here,  good  old  stranger,  heedful 
Penelope  is  calling,  the  mother  of  Telemachus.  Her 
heart  inclines  her  to  ask  for  tidings  of  her  husband, 
so  full  of  grief  is  she.  And  if  she  finds  that  all  you 
tell  is  true,  she  will  clothe  you  in  a  coat  and  tunic, 
things  that  you  greatly  need.  Moreover,  you  shall 
beg  your  bread  about  the  land  and  fill  your  belly. 
Whoever  will  shall  give." 

Then  said  to  him  long-tried  royal  Odysseus :  "  Eu- 
maeus,  I  would  straightway  tell  my  whole  true  story 
to  the  daughter  of  Icarius,  heedful  Penelope ;  for  well 
I  know  about  Odvsseus.  We  have  borne  the  self- 
same  sorrows.  But  I  have  fears  about  this  crowd  of 
cruel  suitors,  whose  arrogance  and  outrage  reaches 
the  iron  heavens  ;  for  even  now  when,  as  I  walked 
along  the  hall  doing  no  harm,  this  person  struck  and 
hurt  me,  neither  Telemachus  nor  others  interfered. 
Bid  then  Penelope,  however  eager,  wait  in  the  hall 
till  sunset ;  then  let  her  ask  about  her  husband's 
coming,  after  giving  me  a  seat  beside  the  fire  ;  for 
the  clothes  I  wear  are  poor.  That,  you  yourself  well 
know;  because  it  was  of  you  I  first  sought  aid." 

He  spoke,  and  the  swineherd  went  as  soon  as  he 
heard  the  order.  But  as  he  crossed  the  threshold, 
thus  spoke  Penelope  :  "  Are  you  not  bringing  him, 
Eumaeus  ?  What  does  the  wanderer  mean  ?  Is  he 
afraid  of  some  bad  man,  or  simply  shy  at  being  in 
the  palace  ?     To  be  a  homeless  man  and  shy  is  bad." 

Then,  swineherd  Eumaeus,  you  answered  her  and 
said :  "  Rightly  he  speaks,  as  any  man  must  think,  if 
he  would  shun  the  violence  of  these  audacious  men. 
He  bids  you  wait  till  sunset.  And  it  is  better  too  for 
yon,  my  queen,  to  speak  to  the  stranger  privately  and 
listen  to  his  tale." 


XVII.  585-606.]         THE   ODYSSEY.  281 

Then  said  to  hini  heedful  Penelope  :  "  Not  without 
wisdom  thinks  the  stranger  thus,  whoever  he  may  be ; 
for  mortal  men  have  never  yet  so  wantonly  wrought 
outrage." 

She  spoke,  and  the  noble  swineherd  entered  the 
throng  of  suitors,  when  he  had  told  her  all;  and 
straightway  to  Telemachus  he  spoke  these  winged 
words,  —  his  head  bent  close,  that  others  might  not 
hear : 

"  My  dear,  I  go  to  guard  the  swine  and  matters 
there,  your  livelihood  and  mine ;  do  you  mind  all 
things  here.  Above  all  else,  keep  yourself  safe  and 
see  that  nothing  happens.  Many  of  the  Achaeans 
are  forming  wicked  plans,  whom  Zeus  confound  before 
harm  falls  on  us  !  " 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus :  "  So  be 
it,  father !  Go  when  you  have  supped ;  and  in  the 
morning  come  and  bring  us  goodly  victims.  To  me 
and  the  immortal  gods  leave  all  things  here." 

He  spoke,  and  once  more  down  Eumaeus  sat  upon 
a  polished  bench.  Then,  after  having  satisfied  desire 
for  food  and  drink,  he  departed  to  his  swine,  leaving 
the  courts  and  hall  crowded  with  feasters,  who  with 
dance  and  song  were  making  merry ;  for  evening  now 
drew  near. 


XVIII. 

THE   FIGHT   OF   ODYSSEUS   AND   IRUS. 

There  came  into  the  hall  a  common  beggar,  who 
used  to  beg  about  the  town  of  Ithaca,  and  everywhere 
was  noted  for  his  greedy  belly,  eating  and  drinking 
without  end.  He  had  no  strength  nor  sinew,  but  in 
bulk  was  large  to  see.  Arnaeus  was  his  name,  the  name 
his  honored  mother  gave  at  his  birth ;  but  Irus  all  the 
young  men  called  him,  because  he  used  to  run  on 
errands  at  anybody's  bidding.  Coming  in  now,  he 
tried  to  drive  Odysseus  from  the  house,  and  jeeringly 
he  spoke  these  winged  words : 

"  Get  up,  old  man,  and  leave  the  door-way,  or  you 
will  soon  be  dragged  off  by  the  leg.  Do  you  not  see 
how  everybody  gives  the  wink  and  bids  me  drag  you 
forth  ?  I  still  hold  back.  Up,  then !  Or  soon  our 
quarrel  comes  to  blows." 

But  looking  sternly  on  him  wise  Odysseus  said: 
"  Sir,  I  am  doing  you  no  harm  by  deed  or  word,  nor 
do  I  grudge  it  when  men  take  and  give  you  much. 
This  door  will  hold  us  both.  Surely  you  should  not 
grudge  the  goods  of  others.  You  seem  a  wanderer, 
like  myself  ;  but  the  gods  may  grant  us  fortune.  Yet 
do  not  challenge  me  too  far  with  show  of  fists,  or  you 
may  rouse  my  rage  ;  and  old  as  I  am,  I  still  might 
stain  your  breast  and  lips  with  blood.  Then  I  should 
have  more  peace  to-morrow  than  to-day ;  for  a  second 
time,  I  think,  you  would  not  seek  the  hall  of  Laertes' 
son,  Odysseus." 


XVIII.  25-57.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  283 

Then  angrily  replied  the  beggar  Iras :  "  Pshaw ! 
How  glibly  the  glutton  talks,  like  an  old  oven-woman  ! 
But  I  will  do  him  an  ugly  turn,  knocking  him  right 
and  left,  and  scattering  all  the  teeth  out  of  his  jaws 
upon  the  ground,  as  if  he  were  a  pig  spoiling  the  corn. 
Gird  yourself  then,  that  all  these  men  may  watch  our 
fighting.  Yet  how  could  you  defend  yourself  against 
a  younger  man  ?  " 

Thus  on  the  well-worn  threshold  before  the  lofty 
door  they  fiercely  wrangled.  Revered  Antinoiis  ob- 
served them,  and  gaily  laughing  he  thus  addressed  the 
suitors  : 

"  Friends,  nothing  so  good  as  this  has  ever  hap- 
pened. What  sport  God  sends  this  house !  The 
stranger  here  and  Irus  are  goading  one  another  on 
to  blows.     Let  us  quickly  set  them  on !  " 

He  spoke,  and  laughing  all  sprang  up  and  flocked 
around  the  tattered  beggars,  and  Antinoiis,  Eupei- 
thes'  son,  called  out :  "  Hearken,  you  haughty  suitors, 
while  I  speak.  Here  are  goat-paunches  lying  by  the 
fire,  set  there  for  supper,  full  of  fat  and  blood. 
Whichever  wins  and  proves  the  better  man,  let  him 
step  forth  and  take  what  one  of  these  he  will ;  and 
that  man  shall  hereafter  always  attend  our  feasts  and 
we  will  allow  no  other  beggar  to  come  here  asking 
alms." 

So  said  Antinoiis,  and  his  saying  pleased  them.  But 
in  his  subtlety  said  wise  Odysseus  :  "  It  is  not  fair, 
my  friends,  a  younger  man  should  fight  an  old  one, 
one  broken  too  by  trouble.  Yet  a  reckless  belly 
forces  me  to  bear  his  blows.  Come  then,  all  swear  a 
solemn  oath  that  nobody  helping  Irus  will  strike  with 
heavy  hand  an  unfair  blow,  and  put  me  down  before 
the  man  perforce." 


284  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XVIII.  58-88. 

He  spoke,  and  all  then  took  the  oath  which  he 
required.  And  after  they  had  sworn  and  ended  all 
their  oath,  once  more  revered  Telemachus  spoke  out 
among  them  :  "  Stranger,  if  heart  and  daring  spirit 
tempt  you  to  meet  the  man,  be  not  afraid  of  any  of 
the  Achaeans ;  for  he  shall  fight  the  crowd  who  strikes 
at  you.  I  am  the  host.  The  princes  too  assent,  An- 
tinoiis  and  Eurymachus,  both  honest-minded  men." 

He  spoke,  and  all  approved.  Meanwhile  Odysseus 
gathered  his  rags  around  his  waist  and  showed  his 
thighs,  so  fair  and  large,  and  his  broad  shoulders 
came  in  sight,  his  breast  and  sinewy  arms.  Athene, 
drawing  nigh,  filled  out  the  limbs  of  the  shepherd  of 
the  people,  that  all  the  suitors  greatly  wondered. 
And  glancing  at  his  neighbor  one  would  say : 

"  Irus  will  soon  be  no  more  Irus,  but  catch  a  plague 
of  his  own  bringing ;  so  big  a  thigh  the  old  man  shows 
under  his  rags." 

So  they  spoke,  and  Irus'  heart  was  sorely  shaken ; 
nevertheless,  the  serving-men  girt  him  and  led  him 
out,  forcing  him  on  in  spite  of  fears.  The  muscles 
quivered  on  his  limbs.  But  Antinoiis  rebuked  him 
and  spoke  to  him  and  said  : 

"  Better  you  were  not  living,  loud-mouthed  bully, 
and  never  had  been  born,  if  you  quake  and  are  so 
mightily  afraid  at  meeting  this  old  man,  one  broken 
by  the  trouble  he  has  had.  Nay,  this  I  tell  you  and 
it  shall  be  done :  if  he  shall  win  and  prove  the  fetter 
man,  I  will  toss  you  into  a  black  ship  and  send  you 
to  the  mainland,  off  to  king  Echetus,  the  bane  of  all 
mankind  ;  and  he  will  cut  your  nose  and  ears  off  with 
his  ruthless  sword,  and  tearing  out  your  bowels  give 
them  raw  to  dogs  to  eat." 

So  he  spoke,  and  a  trembling  greater  still  fell  on 


XVIII.  89-7117.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  285 

the  limbs  of  Irus.  But  into  the  ring-  they  led  him, 
and  both  men  raised  their  fists.  Then  lona-trietl 
royal  Odysseus  doubted  whether  to  strike  him  so  that 
life  might  leave  him  as  he  fell,  or  to  strike  lightly 
and  but  stretch  him  on  the  ground.  Reflecting  thus, 
it  seemed  the  better  way  lightly  to  strike,  for  fear  the 
Achaeans  might  discover  it  was  he.  So  when  they 
raised  their  fists,  Irus  struck  the  right  shoulder  of 
Odysseus ;  but  he  struck  Irus  on  the  neck  below  the 
ear  and  crushed  the  bones  within.  Forthwith  from 
out  his  mouth  the  red  blood  ran,  and  down  in  the 
dust  he  fell  with  a  moan,  gnashing  his  teeth  and 
kicking  on  the  ground.  The  lordly  suitors  raised 
their  hands  and  almost  died  with  laughter.  But 
Odysseus  caught  Irus  by  the  foot  and  dragged  him 
through  the  door-way,  until  he  reached  the  courtyard 
and  the  opening  of  the  porch.  Against  the  courtyard 
wall  he  set  him  up  aslant,  then  thrust  a  staff  into  his 
hand,  and  speaking  in  winged  words  he  said : 

"  Sit  there  awhile,  and  scare  off  dogs  and  swine  ;  and 
do  not  try  to  be  the  lord  of  strangers  and  of  beggars, 
while  pitiful  yourself,  or  haply  some  worse  fate  may 
fall  on  you." 

He  spoke,  and  round  his  shoulder  slung  his  mis- 
erable wallet,  full  of  holes,  which  hung  upon  a  cord, 
then  once  more  walking  to  the  threshold  he  sat  down ; 
meanwhile  the  others  pressed  indoors  with  merry 
laughter  and  thus  accosted  him  : 

"  Stranger,  may  Zeus  and  the  other  immortal  gods 
grant  all  you  wish  for  most,  even  all  your  heart's 
desire,  for  stopping  this,  insatiate  fellow's  begging 
through  the  land.  Soon  we  will  take  him  to  the  main- 
land, off  to  king  Echetus,  the  bane  of  all  mankind." 

So  they  spoke,  and  royal  Odysseus  was  happy  in 


286  THE   ODYSSEY.        [XVIII.  118-150. 

the  omen.  Antinoiis  too  set  a  great  paunch  before 
him,  full  of  fat  and  blood,  and  Amphinomus  took 
two  loaves  out  of  the  basket  and  offered  them,  and 
pledged  him  in  a  golden  cup  and  said :  "  Hail,  aged 
stranger  !  May  happiness  be  yours  in  time  to  come, 
though  you  are  tried  by  many  troubles  now !  " 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said :  "  In- 
deed, Amphinomus,  you  seem  a  man  of  understand- 
ing. Such  was  your  father  too ;  for  I  have  heard 
a  good  report  of  Nisus  of  Doulichion,  how  he  was 
brave  and  rich.  They  say  you  are  his  son.  You 
appear  kind.  So  I  will  speak  and  do  you  mark  and 
listen.  Earth  breeds  no  creature  frailer  than  a  man, 
of  all  that  breathe  and  move  upon  the  earth !  For 
he  says  he  never  more  will  meet  with  trouble,  so 
long  as  the  gods  give  vigor  and  make  his  knees 
be  strong.  Then  when  the  blessed  gods  send  sorrow, 
this  too  he  bears  with  patient  heart,  although  against 
his  will.  Ever  the  mood  of  man  while  on  the  earth 
is  as  the  day  which  the  father  of  men  and  gods  be- 
stows. Once  among  men  I  too  was  counted  prosper- 
ous ;  but  many  wrongs  I  wrought,  led  on  by  pride  and 
sense  of  power,  confident  in  my  father's  and  my 
brothers'  aid.  Wherefore  let  none  in  any  wise  be 
reckless,  but  calmly  take  whatever  gifts  the  gods  pro- 
vide. Yet  I  behold  you  suitors  working  wrong,  wast- 
ing the  wealth  and  worrying  the  wife  of  one  who, 
I  can  tell  you,  will  not  be  absent  long  from  friends 
and  native  land  ;  for  he  is  very  near.  May  then  some 
heavenly  power  conduct  you  to  your  homes  !  And 
may  you  not  encounter  him  whenever  he  returns  to 
his  own  native  land !  Surely  not  bloodless  will  the 
parting  be  between  the  suitors  and  himself  when  un- 
derneath this  roof  he  comes  once  more." 


XVIII.  151-182.]        THE   ODYSSEY.  287 

He  spoke,  and  pouring  a  libation  drank  the  honeyed 
wine,  then  back  in  the  hands  of  the  guardian  of  the 
people  placed  the  cup.  Amphinomus  walked  down 
the  hall  heavy  at  heart,  shaking  his  head ;  his  soul 
foreboded  ill.  Yet  even  so  he  did  not  escape  his 
doom ;  for  Athene  bound  him  fast,  beneath  the  hand 
and  spear  of  Telemachus  to  be  perforce  laid  low.  So 
back  he  turned  and  took  the  seat  from  which  he  first 
arose. 

And  now  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene,  put  in  the 
mind  of  Icarius'  daughter,  heedful  Penelope,  to  show 
herself  among  the  suitors ;  that  she  might  thus  open 
the  suitors'  hearts  most  largely,  and  so  become  more 
highly  prized  by  husband  and  by  son  than  heretofore. 
Idly  she  laughed  and  thus  she  spoke  and  said  : 

14  Eurynome,  my  heart  is  longing  as  it  never  longed 
before  to  show  myself  among  the  suitors,  hateful 
although  they  be.  I  would  say  to  my  son  a  word  that 
may  be  useful ;  tell  him  to  mingle  not  at  all  with  the 
audacious  suitors,  for  they  speak  kindly  but  have  evil 
thoughts  behind." 

And  in  her  turn  Eurynome,  the  housewife,  an- 
swered :  "  Truly,  my  child,  in  all  this  you  speak 
rightly.  Go  then  and  tell  this  saying  to  your  son  and 
do  not  hide  it ;  only  first  wash  your  body  and  anoint 
your  cheeks.  Go  not  with  such  a  tear-stained  face. 
To  grieve  incessantly  makes  matters  worse.  And 
now  your  son  is  what  you  often  prayed  the  immortals 
you  might  see  him,  a  bearded  man  already." 

Then  said  to  her  heedful  Penelope:  "Eurynome, 
urge  me  not,  out  of  kindness,  to  wash  my  body  and 
anoint  me  with  the  oil.  All  charm  of  mine  the  gods 
who  hold  Olympus  took  away  when  he  departed  in 
the  hollow  ships.     But  tell  Autonoe  and  Hippodameia 


288  THE   ODYSSEY.        [XVIII.  183-214. 

to  come  hither,  to  attend  me  in  the  hall.     Among  the 
men  I  will  not  go  alone,  for  very  shame." 

So  she  spoke,  and  through  the  hall  forth  the  old 
woman  went  to  give  the  message  to  the  maids  and  bid 
them  come  with  speed. 

Then  a  new  plan  the  goddess  formed,  clear-eyed 
Athene.  She  poured  sweet  slumber  on  the  daughter 
of  Icarius  ;  and  lying  back  she  slept  and  every  joint 
relaxed,  there  on  her  couch.  Meanwhile  the  heavenly 
goddess  gave  her  immortal  gifts,  to  make  the  Achae- 
ans  marvel.  And  first  she  bathed  her  lovely  cheeks 
with  an  immortal  bloom,  like  that  with  which  crowned 
Cytherea  anoints  herself  when  going  to  the  gladsome 
dance  anions:  the  Graces.  She  made  her  also  taller 
and  larger  to  behold,  and  made  her  whiter  than  the 
new-cut  ivory.  So  having  done,  the  heavenly  goddess 
went  her  way ;  and  out  of  the  hall  the  white-armed 
damsels  came,  entering  the  room  with  noise.  Sweet 
slumber  left  Penelope.  She  drew  her  hands  across 
her  cheeks  and  thus  she  spoke : 

"  Ah,  utterly  wretched  as  I  am,  soft  slumber  wrapt 
me  round.  Would  that  chaste  Artemis  would  send 
a  death  so  soft,  —  instantly,  now,  —  that,  sad  at  heart 
no  more,  I  might  not  waste  my  days  mourning  the 
many-sided  worth  of  him,  my  husband,  the  best  of  all 
Achaeans ! ' 

So  saying,  down  she  went  from  her  bright  upper 
chamber,  yet  not  alone  ;  two  damsels  followed  her. 
And  when  the  royal  lady  reached  the  suitors,  she 
stood  beside  a  column  of  the  strong-built  roof,  hold- 
ing before  her  face  her  delicate  wimple,  the  while 
a  faithful  damsel  stood  upon  either  hand.  The  suit- 
ors' knees  grew  weak ;  with  love  their  hearts  were 
tranced.  Each  prayed  to  lie  beside  her.  But  she 
addressed  Telemachus,her  own  dear  son  : 


XVIII.  215-249.]        THE    ODYSSEY.  289 

"  Telemaehus,  your  mind  and  judgment  are  no 
longer  sound.  ^\  liile  still  a  boy  you  managed  more 
discreetly.  But  now  when  you  are  grown  and  come 
to  man's  estate,  and  any  stranger  would  call  you  the 
son  of  a  man  of  worth,  if  he  observed  your  height 
and  beauty,  —  now  mind  and  judgment  are  not  trusty 
any  more.  For  only  see  what  happened  in  the  hall : 
you  let  this  stranger  be  maltreated  there.  And  what 
will  be  thought  if  a  stranger,  seated  within  our  house, 
should  meet  with  harm  through  brutal  handling  ? 
Shame  and  disgrace  would  come  on  you  from  all 
men." 

Then  answered  her  discreet  Telemaehus  :  "  Mother, 
I  do  not  blame  you  for  your  anger.  Yet  in  my  heart 
I  know  and  fully  understand  the  right  and  wrong. 
Before,  I  was  a  child,  and  I  am  not  always  able  now  to 
see  what  wise  ways  are  ;  for  the  suitors  disconcert  me, 
coming  on  every  side  with  wicked  plans,  while  I  have 
none  to  help.  However,  the  quarrel  of  Irus  and  the 
stranger  turned  out  in  no  wise  to  the  suitors'  mind. 
In  strength  the  stranger  proved  the  better  man.  Ah 
father  Zeus,  Athene,  and  Apollo,  would  that  the  suit- 
ors in  our  halls  might  beaten  hang  their  heads,  — 
some  in  the  yard,  some  in  the  house,  —  and  so  their 
limbs  be  loosed,  as  that  same  Irus  at  the  court vard 
gate  now  sits  and  hangs  his  head,  like  a  man  drunk, 
and  cannot  stand  straight  on  his  feet  nor  go  off  home, 
wherever  that  may  be,  because  his  limbs  are  loose." 

So  they  conversed  together.  But  now  Eurymachus 
addressed  Penelope :  "  Daughter  of  Icarius,  heedful 
Penelope,  if  all  Achaeans  in  Iasian  Argos  could  be- 
hold you,  more  suitors  would  be  feasting  in  your  halls 
to-morrow ;  for  you  excel  all  womankind  in  beauty, 
height,  and  balanced  mind  within." 


290  THE    ODYSSEY.        [XVIII.  250-283. 

Then  answered  him  heedful  Penelope :  "  Euryma- 
chus,  all  excellence  of  mine  in  face  or  form  the  im- 
mortals took  away  the  day  the  Argive  host  took  ship 
for  Ilios,  and  with  them  went  my  lord  Odysseus.  If  he 
would  come  and  tend  this  life  of  mine,  greater  would 
be  my  fame  and  fairer  then.  Now  I  am  in  distress, 
such  woes  God  thrusts  upon  me.  Ah,  when  he  went 
and  left  his  native  land,  holding  my  hand,  — my  right 
hand,  by  the  wrist,  —  he  said  :  4  Wife,  I  do  not  think 
the  mailed  Achaeans  will  all  come  back  from  Troy 
safe  and  unharmed ;  for  they  say  the  Trojans  are  good 
fighters,  —  hurlers  of  spears,  drawers  of  bows,  and 
riders  on  swift  horses,  —  such  men  as  soon  decide  the 
struggle  of  uncertain  war.  Therefore  I  do  not  know 
if  God  will  bring  me  back,  or  if  I  shall  be  captured 
there  in  Troy.  On  you  must  rest  the  care  of  all 
things  here.  Be  mindful  of  my  father  and  my  mother 
here  at  home,  as  you  are  now,  and  even  more  when  I 
am  gone.  And  when  you  see  our  son  a  bearded  man, 
then  marry  whom  you  will,  and  leave  the  house  now 
yours.'  Such  were  his  words,  and  all  now  nears  its 
end.  The  night  will  come  when  a  detested  marriage 
falls  on  doomed  me,  whom  Zeus  has  stripped  of  for- 
tune. One  bitter  vexation,  too,  touches  my  heart  and 
soul :  this  never  was  the  way  with  suitors  hereto- 
fore ;  they  who  will  woo  a  lady  of  rank,  a  rich  man's 
daughter,  rivaling  one  another,  bring  oxen  and  sturdy 
sheep,  to  feast  the  maiden's  friends,  and  give  rich 
gifts  besides.  They  do  not,  making  no  amends,  de- 
vour another's  substance." 

She  spoke,  and  glad  was  long-tried  royal  Odysseus 
to  see  her  winning  gifts  and  charming  the  suitors' 
hearts  with  pleasing  words,  while  her  mind  had  a  dif- 
ferent purpose. 


XVIII.  284-316.]        THE   ODYSSEY.  291 

Then  said  Antinoiis,  Eupeithes'  son :  "  Daughter 
of  Icarius,  heedful  Penelope,  if  any  Achaean  cares  to 
bring  gifts  hither,  accept  them ;  for  it  is  not  gracious 
to  refuse  a  gift.  But  we  will  never  go  to  our  estates, 
nor  elsewhere  either,  till  you  are  married  to  the  best 
Achaean  here." 

So  said  Antinoiis,  and  his  saying  pleased  them ; 
and  for  the  bringing  of  the  gifts  each  man  sent  forth 
his  page.  The  page  of  Antinoiis  brought  a  fair  large 
robe  of  many  colors  ;  on  it  were  golden  brooches, 
twelve  in  all,  mounted  with  twisted  clasps.  To  Eury- 
inachus  his  page  presently  brought  a  chain,  wrought 
curiously  in  gold  and  set  with  amber,  bright  as 
the  sun.  His  servants  brought  Eurydamus  a  pair  of 
earrings,  each  brilliant  with  three  drops ;  from  them 
great  beauty  sparkled.  Out  of  the  house  of  lord 
Peisander,  son  of  Polyctor,  his  servant  brought  a 
necklace,  a  jewel  exceeding  fair.  And  other  servants 
brought  still  other  fitting  gifts  from  the  Achaeans. 

Then  went  the  royal  lady  to  her  upper  chamber, 
her  damsels  carrying  the  goodly  gifts.  Meanwhile 
the  suitors  to  dancing  and  the  gladsome  song  turned 
merrily,  and  waited  for  the  evening  to  come  on.  And 
on  their  merriment  dark  evening  came.  Straightway 
they  set  three  braziers  in  the  hall,  to  give  them  light, 
and  piled  upon  them  sapless  logs,  —  long  seasoned, 
very  dry,  and  freshly  split, —  with  which  they  mingled 
brands.  By  turns  the  maids  of  hardy  Odysseus  fed 
the  fire ;  and  he,  the  high-born  wise  Odysseus,  thus 
addressed  them : 

"  You  damsels  of  Odysseus,  a  master  long  away,  go 
to  the  room  where  your  honored  mistress  stays. 
There  twirl  your  spindles  by  her  side  and  furnish  her 
good  cheer,  as  you  sit  within  her  hall,  and  card  with 


292  THE   ODYSSEY.        [XVIII.  317-346. 

your  hands  the  wool.  I  will  supply  the  light  for  all 
these  here.  Yes,  if  they  wish  to  stay  till  bright- 
throned  dawn,  they  will  not  weary  me  ;  I  am  prac- 
ticed to  endure." 

At  these  his  words  the  damsels  laughed  and  glanced 
at  one  another,  and  Melantho  rudely  reviled  Odysseus, 
—  Melantho  the  fair-faced  girl,  daughter  of  Dolius, 
whom  Penelope  had  reared  and  treated  as  her  child, 
granting  her  every  whim.  But  for  all  this,  she  enter- 
tained no  sorrow  for  Penelope,  but  loved  Eurymachus 
and  was  his  paramour.  She  now  reviled  Odysseus  in 
these  abusive  words  : 

"  Why,  silly  stranger,  you  are  certainly  some  crack- 
brained  person,  unwilling  to  go  to  the  coppersmith's 
to  sleep,  or  to  the  common  lodge ;  but  here  you  prate 
continually,  braving  these  many  lords  and  unabashed 
at  heart.  Surely  the  wine  has  touched  your  wits  ;  or 
else  it  is  your  constant  way  to  chatter  idly.  Are  you 
beside  yourself  because  you  beat  that  scapegrace  Irus  ? 
A  better  man  than  Irus  may  by  and  by  arise,  to  box 
your  pate  with  doughty  blows  and  pack  you  out  of 
doors  all  dabbled  with  your  blood." 

But  looking  sternly  on  her,  wise  Odysseus  said: 
"You  cur,  I  go,  and  at  once  tell  Telemachus  what 
words  you  use  ;  and  he  shall  tear  you  limb  from  limb 
upon  the  spot." 

So  saying,  by  his  words  he  frightened  off  the 
women.  They  hurried  along  the  hall.  The  knees  of 
each  grew  weak  with  terror,  for  they  thought  he  spoke 
in  earnest.  He,  meanwhile,  keeping  up  the  fire,  stood 
by  the  blazing  braziers  observing  all  the  men.  But 
other  thoughts  his  heart  debated,  thoughts  not  to  fail 
of  issue. 

Yet  Athene  allowed  the  haughty  suitors  not  alto- 


XVIII.  347-377.]         THE    ODYSSEY.  293 

gether  yet  to  cease  from  biting  scorn.  She  wished 
more  pain  to  pierce  the  heart  of  Laertes'  son,  Odys- 
seus. So  Enrymachus  the  son  of  Polybns  began  to 
speak,  and  jeering  Odysseus  raised  a  laugh  among  his 
mates  :  "  Hearken,  you  suitors  of  the  illustrious  queen, 
and  let  me  tell  you  what  the  heart  within  me  bids. 
Xot  without  guidance  of  a  god  this  fellow  comes  to 
the  household  of  Odysseus.  At  any  rate,  a  torchlight 
seems  to  rise  from  his  very  head  ;  for  hair  upon  it 
there  is  none,  no  not  the  least." 

With  that  he  called  to  the  spoiler  of  towns,  Odys- 
seus :  'k  Stranger,  if  I  would  take  you,  would  you  like 
to  work  for  hire  on  the  outskirts  of  my  farm,  —  there 
will  be  pay  enough,  —  gathering  stones  for  walls  and 
setting  out  tall  trees?  There  for  a  year  I  would 
provide  you  food,  furnish  you  clothing  and  put  san- 
dals on  your  feet.  Still,  now  that  you  have  learned 
bad  ways  you  will  not  care  to  work,  but  will  prefer  to 
beg  about  the  town,  so  long  as  you  can  find  where- 
with to  stuff  your  greedy  maw." 

Then  wise  Odvsseus  answered  him  and  said :  "  Eu- 
rymachus,  I  wish  that  we  might  haVfe  a  match  at 
work,  in  spring-time  when  the  days  are  long,  upon  the 
grass  ;  and  I  woidd  take  a  well-curved  scythe  and  you 
another  like  it  to  test  our  power  of  work,  fasting 
right  up  till  dark,  with  grass  still  plenty.  Or  if  again 
the  match  were  driving  oxen,  —  choice,  tawny,  large 
ones,  both  well  fed  with  grass,  equal  in  years  and 
pulling  well  together,  tireless  in  strength,  —  and  here 
were  a  field  four  acres  large,  whose  soil  would  take 
the  plow  ;  then  you  should  see  if  I  could  cut  a  straight 
and  even  furrow.  Or,  once  more,  if  the  son  of  Kro- 
nos  by  some  means  stirred  up  war,  this  very  day,  and 
I  had  a  shield  and  pair  of  spears  and  a  brazen  helmet 


294  THE   ODYSSEY.        [XVIII.  378-409. 

fitted  to  my  brow,  then  would  you  see  me  join  the 
foremost  in  the  fight,  and  you  would  no  longer  jest 
and  talk  about  my  belly.  No,  you  are  very  proud  and 
your  temper  is  disdainful ;  no  doubt  you  seem  a  great 
man  and  a  mighty,  because  you  mix  with  few  and 
they  of  little  worth.  But  should  Odysseus  come  and 
reach  his  native  land,  soon  would  these  doors,  how- 
ever wide,  prove  all  too  narrow,  as  you  hurried  through 
the  porch." 

As  he  spoke  thus,  Eurymachus  grew  angrier  still 
at  heart,  and  looking  sternly  on  Odysseus,  he  spoke 
these  winged  words  :  "  Wretch,  I  shall  do  you  mis- 
chief soon  for  prating  so,  braving  these  many  lords 
and  unabashed  at  heart.  Surely  the  wine  has  touched 
your  wits ;  or  else  it  is  your  constant  way  to  chatter 
idly.  Are  you  beside  yourself  because  you  beat  that 
scapegrace  Irus  ?  " 

So  saying,  he  seized  a  footstool ;  Odysseus  crouched 
by  the  knees  of  Amphinomus  of  Doulichion,  fearing 
Eurymachus,  who  hit  the  right  hand  of  the  wine- 
pourer.  Down  went  his  beaker  clattering  to  the 
ground,  and  he  himself  fell  moaning  in  the  dust.  But 
the  suitors  broke  into  uproar  up  and  down  the  dusky 
hall,  and  glancing  at  his  neighbor  one  would  say  : 

"  Would  that  the  vagabond  had  perished  elsewhere 
before  he  came  in  here  !  He  would  not  then  have 
caused  this  din.  Here  we  are  brawling  over  beggars. 
No  more  delight  in  jolly  feasts  ;  now  worse  things  have 
their  way  !  " 

Then  said  to  them  revered  Telemachus  :  "  Sirs^you 
are  mad,  and  do  not  hide  that  you  have  drunk  and 
eaten.  Some  god  excites  you.  But  now  that  you  have 
feasted  well,  go  home  to  bed  as  quickly  as  you  please. 
Yet  I  drive  none  away." 


XVIII.  410-428.]        THE   ODYSSEY.  295 

He  spoke,  and  all  with  teeth  set  in  their  lips  mar- 
veled because  Telemaclms  had  spoken  boldly.  And 
then  Amphinomus,  the  illustrious  son  of  noble  Nisus, 
and  grandson  of  Aretias,  addressed  them  saying : 
"  Friends,  in  answering  what  is  fairly  said,  none  should 
be  angry  and  retort  with  spiteful  words.  Let  none 
abuse  the  stranger  nor  any  of  the  servants  in  great 
Odysseus'  hall.  Come  then  and  let  the  wine-pourer 
give  pious  portions  to  our  cups,  that  after  a  libation 
we  each  go  home  to  bed.  And  let  us  leave  the  stran- 
ger here  within  Odysseus'  hall,  to  be  cared  for  by  Te- 
lemachus ;  for  to  his  house  he  came." 

He  spoke,  and  to  them  all  his  words  were  pleas- 
ing. So  a  bowl  was  brewed  by  the  lord  Moulius,  a 
Doulichian  page  and  follower  of  Amphinomus.  To 
all  in  turn  he  served ;  and  they,  with  a  libation  to  the 
blessed  gods,  drank  of  the  honeyed  wine.  Then  after 
they  had  poured  and  drunk  as  their  hearts  would,  de- 
siring rest,  they  each  departed  homeward. 


XIX. 

THE     MEETING   WITH    PENELOPE   AND    THE     RECOGNI- 
TION  BY   EURYCLEIA. 

So  in  the  hall  was  royal  Odysseus  left  behind,  plot- 
ting to  slay  the  suitors  with  Athene's  aid,  and  straight- 
way to  Telemachus  he  spoke  these  winged  words : 

"  Telemachus,  this  fighting  gear  must  all  be  laid 
away,  and  with  soft  words  you  must  beguile  the  suit- 
ors when  they  because  they  miss  it  question  you :  '  I 
put  it  by  out  of  the  smoke,  for  it  looks  no  longer  like 
the  armor  which  Odysseus  left  behind  when  he  went 
away  to  Troy ;  it  is  all  tarnished,  where  the  scent  of 
fire  has  come  nigh.  Besides,  this  graver  fear  some 
god  put  in  my  mind.  You  might  when  full  of  wine 
begin  a  quarrel  and  give  each  other  wounds,  making 
a  scandal  of  the  feast  and  of  your  wooing.  Steel  it- 
self draws  men  on.'  " 

He  spoke,  and  Telemachus  heeded  his  dear  father, 
and  calling  aside  nurse  Eurycleia,  said  :  "  Nurse,  go 
and  keep  the  women  in  their  rooms  while  I  place  in 
the  chamber  my  father's  goodly  armor,  which  as  it 
lies  uncared  for  round  the  house  smoke  stains,  while 
he  is  gone.  I  have  been  foolish.  Now  I  will  place 
it  where  no  scent  of  fire  shall  come  niffh." 

Then  said  to  him  his  dear  nurse  Eurycleia  :  "  Ah ! 
Would,  my  child,  you  might  incline  to  heedful  ways, 
and  mind  the  house  and  guard  its  treasures  !  But 
who  shall  go  and  bear  the  light  ?  You  will  not  let 
the  women  stir  who  might  have  lighted  you." 


XIX.  26-58.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  297 

Then  answered  her  discreet  Telemachus :  "  This 
stranger  here  ;  for  I  will  allow  no  idle  man  to  touch 
my  bread,  come  he  from  whence  he  may." 

Such  were  his  words ;  unwinged,  they  rested  with 
her.  She  locked  the  doors  of  the  stately  hall.  And 
now  arose  Odysseus  and  his  gallant  son  and  bore  away 
the  helmets,  bulging  shields  and  pointed  spears.  Be- 
fore them  Pallas  Athene,  holding  a  golden  lamp, 
made  beauteous  light.  Thereat  Telemachus  said  to 
his  father  quickly  : 

"  Father,  my  eyes  behold  a  mighty  marvel.  The 
palace  walls  and  the  fair  interspaces,  the  pine-wood 
beams  and  the  uprising  pillars  are  all  aglow  as  from 
a  blazing  fire.  Surely  a  god  is  in  this  house,  even 
such  as  they  who  hold  the  open  sky." 

But  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said  :  "  Hush, 
check  your  thoughts  and  ask  no  question.  It  is  in- 
deed an  indication  of  the  gods  that  hold  Olympus. 
Go  you  to  rest.  I  will  continue  here,  to  try  these 
damsels  and  your  mother  more  ;  and  she  shall  weep 
and  question  me  of  all." 

So  he  spoke,  and  through  the  hall  forth  went  Te- 
lemachus with  blazing  torch,  to  rest  within  that  cham- 
ber where  he  always  lay  when  pleasant  sleep  drew 
near.  Here  then  he  laid  him  down,  awaiting  sacred 
dawn ;  while  in  the  hall  royal  Odysseus  staid  behind, 
plotting  to  slay  the  suitors  with  Athene's  aid. 

Now  from  her  room  came  heedful  Penelope,  like 
Artemis  or  golden  Aphrodite.  Beside  the  fire  where 
she  was  wont  to  sit,  they  placed  a  chair  fashioned 
with  spiral  work  of  ivory  and  silver ;  which  Icmalius, 
the  carpenter,  had  made  long  time  ago,  setting  upon 
the  lower  part  a  rest  for  feet,  fixed  to  the  chair  itself. 
Over  the  whole  a  large  fleece  had  been  thrown.    Here 


298  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XIX.  59-90. 

heedful  Penelope  now  sat  down.  Soon  came  the 
white  -  armed  damsels  from  their  hall,  and  cleared 
away  the  abundant  food,  the  tables,  and  the  cups  from 
which  the  proud  lords  had  been  drinking.  The  em- 
bers from  the  braziers  they  threw  upon  the  floor,  and 
in  the  braziers  piled  fresh  heaps  of  wood  to  furnish 
light  and  warmth.  Then  thus  Melantho  once  more 
chid  Odysseus : 

"  Stranger,  are  you  still  here,  to  plague  us  all  night 
long,  prowling  about  the  house,  watching  the  women  ? 
Be  off,  vile  thing,  and  be  content  with  eating,  or  you 
will  soon  be  hit  with  a  brand  and  go." 

But  looking  sternly  on  her,  wise  Odysseus  said  : 
"  Woman,  why  rail  at  me  with  such  an  angry  heart  ? 
Is  it  that  I  am  foul  and  wear  mean  clothes  and  beg 
about  the  land?  Necessity  constrains  me.  This  is 
what  beggars  and  what  homeless  people  are.  Yet 
once  I  lived  in  luxury  among  my  mates,  in  a  rich 
house,  and  often  gave  to  wanderers,  careless  who  they 
might  be  or  with  what  need  they  came.  Servants  I 
had  in  plenty  and  everything  besides  by  which  men 
live  at  ease  and  are  reputed  rich.  But  Zeus,  the  son  of 
Kronos,  brought  me  low.  His  will  it  was.  And  you 
too,  woman,  some  day  yet  may  lose  those  charms  in 
which  you  now  excel  the  other  maids.  Your  mistress 
may  become  provoked  to  anger  with  you.  Odysseus 
may  return  ;  there  still  is  room  for  hope.  But  if  he  is 
dead,  as  you  suppose,  and  to  return  no  more,  yet  by 
Apollo's  grace  he  has  a  worthy  son,  Telemachus, 
whose  eye  no  woman  in  the  hall  escapes  in  her  mis- 
deeds ;  because   he   is   no   longer   now    the  child  he 


was." 


Heedful  Penelope  heard  what  he  was  saying,  and 
she  rebuked  her  maid  and  spoke  to  her  and  said : 


XIX.  91-122.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  299 

"  Not  in  the  least,  vou  bold  and  shameless  creature, 
have  you  escaped  my  eye  in  doing  guilty  deeds.  Your 
head  shall  answer  for  them.  Full  well  you  knew  — 
you  heard  it  from  myself  —  that  I  intended  to  ask 
tidings  of  this  stranger  here  in  my  hall  about  my  hus- 
band ;  for  I  am  sore  distressed." 

She  spoke,  and  to  the  house-keeper  Eurynome  she 
said :  "  Eurynome,  pray  bring  a  bench  and  a  fleece 
on  it,  and  let  the  stranger  sit  and  tell  his  tale,  and 
listen  too  to  me  ;  I  wish  to  question  him." 

She  spoke  ;  the  other  with  all  speed  brought  her  a 
polished  bench  and  placed  it  there,  and  on  it  laid  a 
fleece.  Then  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  sat  him  down, 
and  thus  began  heedful  Penelope  : 

"  Stranger,  I  will  myself  first  ask  you  this  :  who 
are  you  ?  Of  what  people  ?  Where  is  your  town  and 
kindred?" 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said :  "  Lady, 
no  man  upon  the  boundless  earth  may  speak  dispraise 
of  you,  because  your  fame  is  wide  as  is  the  sky. 
Such  is  the  glory  of  a  blameless  king  who  reverences 
God  and  rules  a  people  numerous  and  mighty,  up- 
holding justice.  For  him  the  dark-soiled  earth  pro- 
duces wheat  and  barley,  trees  bend  low  with  fruit, 
the  flock  has  constant  issue,  and  the  sea  yields 
fish,  under  his  righteous  sway.  Because  of  him  his 
people  prosper.  Question  me,  then,  of  all  things  else 
while  I  am  here ;  but  do  not  ask  my  lineage  and 
home,  nor  fill  my  heart  with  still  more  pains  by  recol- 
lection. I  am  a  man  of  sorrows ;  yet  must  I  not  in 
a  strange  house  sit  down  to  weep  and  wail.  To 
grieve  incessantly  makes  matters  worse.  One  of 
these  maids,  or  you  yourself,  might  take  it  ill,  and  say 
my  flood  of  tears  came  with  a  weight  of  wine." 


300  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XIX.  123-156. 

Then  answered  him  heedful  Penelope :  "  Stranger, 
all  excellence  of  mine  in  face  or  form  the  immortals 
took  away  the  day  the  Argive  host  took  ship  for  Ilios, 
and  with  them  went  my  lord  Odysseus.  If  he  would 
come  and  tend  this  life  of  mine,  greater  would  be  my 
fame  and  fairer  then.  Now  I  am  in  distress,  such 
woes  God  thrusts  upon  me.  For  all  the  nobles  who 
bear  sway  among  the  islands  —  Doulichion,  Same, 
and  woody  Zacynthus  —  and  they  who  here  in  far- 
seen  Ithaca  dwell  round  about,  sue  for  unwilling  me 
and  waste  my  house.  Wherefore  I  pay  no  heed  to 
strangers  or  to  suppliants,  nor  even  to  heralds  who  ply 
a  public  trade  ;  but,  longing  for  Odysseus,  I  waste  my 
heart  away.  These  men  urge  on  my  marriage :  I 
wind  my  skein  of  guile.  First,  Heaven  inspired  my 
mind  to  set  up  a  great  loom  within  the  hall  and  weave 
a  robe,  fine  and  exceeding  large  ;  and  to  the  men 
said  I,  l  Young  men  who  are  my  suitors,  though  royal 
Odysseus  now  is  dead,  forbear  to  urge  my  marriage 
till  I  complete  this  robe,  —  its  threads  must  not  be 
wasted,  —  a  shroud  for  lord  Laertes,  against  the  time 
when  the  fell  doom  of  death  that  lays  men  low  shall 
overtake  him.  Achaean  wives  about  the  land  I  fear 
might  give  me  blame  if  he  should  lie  without  a 
shroud,  he  who  had  great  possessions.'  Such  were 
my  words,  and  their  high  hearts  assented.  Then  in 
the  daytime  would  I  weave  at  the  great  web,  but  in 
the  night  unravel,  after  my  torch  was  set.  Thus  for 
three  years  I  hid  my  craft  and  cheated  the  Achaeans. 
But  when  the  fourth  year  came,  as  time  rolled  on, 
when  the  months  waned  and  the  long  days  were  done, 
then  through  the  means  of  maids  —  the  thankless 
creatures,  —  they  came  and  caught  me  and  up- 
braided me  ;  so  then   I  finished  it,  against  nry  will, 


XIX.  157-187.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  301 

perforce.  Now  I  can  neither  shun  the  match  nor  find 
a  fresh  device.  My  parents  too  press  me  to  marry, 
and  my  son  chafes  at  the  men  who  swallow  up  his 
living ;  noting  it  now,  for  now  he  is  a  man  and  fully 
able  to  heed  his  house,  and  Zeus  vouchsafes  him  honor. 
Yet  what  of  this !  Tell  me  the  lineage  of  which  you 
come.  You  are  not  born  of  immemorial  oak  or 
rock." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said :  "  O 
honored  wife  of  Laertes'  son,  Odysseus,  will  you  not 
cease  to  question  of  my  lineage  ?  Well,  I  will  tell 
the  tale,  though  you  deliver  me  to  sorrows  more  than 
I  now  bear.  But  so  it  ever  is  when  one  is  absent 
from  his  land  as  Ions:  as  I,  wandering  from  town  to 
town,  he  meets  with  hardship!  Still,  I  will  tell  you 
what  you  ask  and  seek  to  know. 

"  There  is  a  country,  Crete,  in  the  midst  of  the 
wine-dark  sea,  a  fair  land  and  a  rich,  begirt  with  water. 
The  people  there  are  many,  innumerable  indeed,  and 
they  have  ninety  cities.  Their  speech  is  mixed  ;  one 
language  joins  another.  Here  are  Achaeans,  here 
brave  native  Cretans,  here  Cydonians,  crested  Do- 
rians, and  noble  Pelasgians.  Of  all  their  towns  the 
capital  is  Cnosus,  where  Minos  became  king  when 
nine  years  old  —  Minos,  the  friend  of  mighty  Zeus 
and  father  of  my  father,  bold  Deucalion.  Deucalion 
begot  me  and  the  prince  Idomeneus.  Idomeneus,  how- 
ever, went  in  beaked  ships  to  Ilios,  in  train  of  the 
Atreidae.  My  own  proud  name  is  Aethon,and  I  am 
the  younger  born  ;  he  was  the  older  and  the  better 
man.  Here  was  it  that  I  saw  Odysseus  and  gave  him 
entertainment ;  for  into  Crete  a  strong  wind  bore 
him,  and  while  he  steered  toward  Troy  it  forced  him 
past  Maleia.      He   anchored   at   Amnisus,   where   is 


302  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XIX.  188-219. 

Elithyia's  cave,  in  a  harbor  hard  to  win,  and  he 
scarcely  cleared  the  storm.  Straightway  he  came  to 
town,  inquiring  for  Idomeneus ;  for  he  said  he  was  his 
friend,  beloved  and  honored.  But  it  was  now  the  tenth 
dawn,  or  the  eleventh,  since  Idomeneus  had  gone  with 
the  beaked  ships  to  Ilios.  And  so  it  happened  it  was 
I  who  brought  him  to  the  palace,  where  I  entertained 
him  well  and  gave  him  generous  welcome  from  the 
abundance  of  my  house.  To  him  and  all  the  men 
who  followed  I  furnished  barley-meal  and  sparkling 
wine  from  out  the  public  store,  with  oxen  enough  for 
sacrifice  to  fill  their  heart's  desire.  Here  for  twelve 
days  the  noble  Achaeans  tarried;  the  strong  wind 
Boreas  constrained  them  and  even  near  the  shore  let 
them  not  lie  at  anchor.  Some  baffling  power  aroused 
it.  But  on  the  thirteenth  day  the  wind  went  down, 
and  so  they  put  to  sea." 

He  made  the  many  falsehoods  of  his  tale. seem  like 
the  truth.  So  as  she  listened,  drops  ran  down ;  she 
melted  into  tears.  And  as  the  snow  melts  on  the 
lofty  mountains,  when  Eurus  melts  what  Zephyrus 
has  scattered,  and  at  its  melting  flowing  rivers  fill ; 
so  did  her  fair  cheeks  melt  with  flowing  tears,  as  she 
bewailed  the  husband  who  was  seated  by  her  side. 
Odysseus  in  his  heart  pitied  his  sobbing  wife  ;  but  his 
eyes  stood  fixed  as  horn  or  iron,  motionless  in  their 
sockets.  Through  craft  he  checked  his  tears.  But 
when  she  had  had  her  fill  of  tears  and  sighs,  finding 
her  words  once  more  she  said  to  him  : 

"  Now,  stranger,  I  shall  put  you  to  the  test,  I  think, 
and  see  if  at  your  hall  you  really  entertained  my  hus- 
band and  his  gallant  comrades,  as  you  say.  Tell  me 
what  sort  of  clothes  he  wore  ;  what  the  man  him- 
self was  like,  and  the  comrades  who  were  with  him." 


XIX.  220-252.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  303 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said :  "  O 
lady,  it  is  hard,  with  so  long  a  time  between,  to  tell 
you  that ;  for  twenty  years  are  gone  since  he  set  forth 
and  left  my  land.  Still,  I  will  tell  you  how  my  mind 
makes  him  appear.  A  cloak  of  purple  wool  Odysseus 
wore,  made  with  a  double  fold.  A  brooch  of  gold 
upon  it  was  fashioned  with  twin  buckles,  the  front 
part  ornamented.  In  his  forepaws  a  dog  held  down  a 
spotted  fawn  and  clutched  it  as  it  writhed.  This  all 
admired  and  marveled  how,  though  things  of  gold, 
the  dog  would  clutch  and  choke  the  fawn,  and  how 
the  fawn  that  struggled  to  escape  would  twitch  its 
feet.  His  tunic  too  I  noticed,  sheeny  across  the  flesh, 
just  like  the  skin  stripped  down  from  a  dried  onion  ;  so 
smooth  it  was,  and  glistering  like  the  sun.  And  truly 
many  a  woman  gazed  on  the  man  with  wonder.  But 
this  I  will  say  farther  ;  mark  it  well.  I  do  not  know 
if  Odysseus  wore  this  dress  at  home,  or  if  a  comrade 
gave  it  when  he  entered  the  swift  ship,  or  yet  perhaps 
some  host.  Odysseus  was  beloved  by  many  men  : 
few  of  the  Achaeans  equally.  I  gave  him  gifts  my- 
self,—  a  sword  of  bronze,  a  beautiful  purple  doublet 
and  a  bordered  tunic  ;  and  I  sent  him  off  with  honor 
on  his  well-benched  ship.  A  herald  a  little  older  than 
himself  attended  him.  I  will  describe  what  manner 
of  man  this  herald  was :  bent  in  the  shoulders, 
swarthy,  curly-haired,  and  named  Eurybates.  Odys- 
seus honored  him  beyond  his  other  comrades,  because 
he  had  a  mind  that  suited  well  his  own." 

So  he  spoke,  and  stirred  still  more  her  yearning 
after  tears,  as  she  recognized  the  tokens  which  Odys- 
seus exactly  told.  But  when  she  had  had  her  fill  of 
tears  and  sighs,  finding  her  words  once  more  she  said 
to  him  : 


804  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XIX.  253-284. 

"  From  this  time  forth,  stranger,  you  who  before 
were  pitied  shall  in  my  halls  be  one  beloved  and  hon- 
ored. For  I  it  was  who  gave  the  clothes  which  you 
describe.  I  folded  them  in  the  chamber  and  fixed  the 
glittering  brooch  to  be  his  pride.  But  I  shall  never- 
more receive  him  homeward  returning  to  his  native 
land.  Wherefore  through  evil  fate  Odysseus  went  by 
hollow  ship  to  see  accursed  Ilios,  name  never  to  be 
named." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said  :  "  O 
honored  wife  of  Laertes'  son  Odysseus,  mar  your 
fair  face  no  more,  nor  waste  your  heart  with  sorrow- 
ing for  your  husband.  And  yet  I  do  not  blame  you  ; 
for  any  woman  weeps  to  lose  the  husband  of  her 
youth,  whose  children  she  has  borne,  whose  love  she 
tasted,  though  he  were  other  than  Odysseus,  who  they 
say  is  like  the  gods.  Still,  cease  your  grief  and  mark 
my  word ;  for  I  will  speak  unerringly  and  nothing 
will  I  hide  of  what  I  lately  heard  about  the  coming 
of  Odysseus,  —  how  he  is  near,  in  the  rich  country  of 
the  Thesprotians,  a  living  man,  and  bringing  with  him 
much  good  treasure  which  he  has  begged  throughout 
the  land.  His  trusty  crew  and  hollow  ship  he  lost  on 
the  wrine-dark  sea,  when  coming  from  the  island  of 
Thrinacia  ;  for  Zeus  and  the  Sun  wTere  angry  with 
him,  because  his  crew  killed  the  Sun's  kine.  So  they 
all  perished  in  the  surging  sea  ;  but  he  on  his  ship's 
keel  was  cast  by  a  wave  ashore  on  the  coast  of  the 
Phaeacians,  who  are  kinsmen  of  the  gods.  They 
honored  him  exceedingly,  as  if  he  were  a  god,  and  gave 
him  many  gifts  and  themselves  wished  to  bring  him 
home  unharmed.  And  here  in  Ithaca  Odysseus  would 
have  been  long  time  ago,  only  it  seemed  a  thing  of 
greater  profit  to  gather  wealth  by   roaming  far  and 


XIX.  285-317.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  305 

wide, —  so  many  gainful  ways,  beyond  all  mortal  men, 
Odysseus  understands  ;  no  living  man  can  match  him. 
This  is  the  story  which  the  king  of  the  Thesprotians, 
Pheidon,  told  me.  Moreover  in  my  presence,  as  he 
offered  a  libation  in  his  house,  he  swore  the  ship  was 
launched  and  sailors  waiting  to  bring  him  home  to  his 
own  native  land.  But  he  sent  me  off  before,  for  a 
ship  of  the  Thesprotians  happened  to  be  starting  for 
the  Doulichian  grainnelds.  He  showed  me  all  the  trea- 
sure that  Odysseus  had  obtained ;  and  really  it  would 
suj)port  man  after  man  ten  generations  long,  so  large 
a  stock  was  stored  in  the  king's  palace.  Odysseus 
himself,  he  said,  was  gone  at  that  time  to  Dodona,  to 
learn  from  the  sacred  lofty  oak  the  will  of  Zeus,  and 
how  he  might  return,  whether  openly  or  by  stealth,  to 
his  dear  native  land  when  now  so  long  away.  So  he 
is  safe,  and  soon  will  come,  and  now  is  near  at  hand, 
and  parted  from  friends  and  native  land  he  wTill  not 
tarry  long.  Lo,  I  will  add  an  oath.  First  then  of 
all  the  gods  be  witness  Zeus,  highest  of  gods  and 
noblest,  and  let  the  hearth  of  good  Odysseus  whereto 
I  come  be  witness ;  all  this  shall  be  accomplished  ex- 
actly as  I  say.  This  very  year  Odysseus  comes,  as 
this  moon  wanes  and  as  the  next  appears." 

Then  said  to  him  heedful  Penelope  :  "Ah,  stranger, 
would  these  words  of  yours  might  be  fulfilled !  Soon 
should  you  know  my  kindness  and  many  a  gift  from 
me,  and  every  man  you  met  would  call  you  blessed. 
But  yet  the  thought  is  in  my  heart  how  it  will  really 
be.  Odysseus  will  return  no  more,  nor  you  get  con- 
voy hence  ;  for  there  are  no  more  masters  in  the 
house,  able,  as  once  Odysseus  was  —  if  ever  he  was 
here,  —  to  speed  the  worthy  stranger  forth  or  kindly  to 
receive.  Still,  wash  the  stranger's  feet,  my  women,  and 


306  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XIX.  318-353. 

prepare  liis  bed,  bedstead  and  robes  and  bright-hued 
rugs,  that  well  and  warmly  he  may  spend  the  time  till 
gold-throned  dawn  ;  and  early  in  the  morning  bathe 
and  anoint  him  well,  so  that  indoors  beside  Telema- 
chus  he  may  await  his  meal,  seated  within  the  hall. 
And  woe  to  him  who  persecutes  or  frets  the  man. 
Henceforth  he  shall  get  nothing  here,  though  he  be 
sorely 'vexed.  For  how  could  you  think  me,  stranger, 
better  than  other  women  in  will  and  careful  wisdom,  if 
you  should  sit  at  table  in  my  hall  unkeinpt  and  meanly 
clad  ?  Men  are  short-lived.  And  if  a  man  is  harsh 
and  thinks  harsh  thoughts,  on  him  all  call  down  curses 
while  he  lives,  and  when  he  dies  revile  him :  but  he 
who  is  gentle  and  thinks  gentle  thoughts,  his  praises 
strangers  carry  far  and  wide  to  all  mankind,  and  many 
speak  him  well." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said  :  "  O 
honored  wife  of  Laertes'  son  Od}Tsseus,  hateful  to 
me  are  robes  and  bright-hued  rugs,  since  first  I  left 
the  snowy  hills  of  Crete  on  board  the  long-oared  ship. 
Here  I  would  rest  just  as  I  used  to  lie  through  sleep- 
less nights ;  for  many  a  night  I  spent  on  a  rough  bed, 
awaiting  sacred  bright-throned  dawn.  Baths  for  the 
feet  give  me  no  pleasure,  and  foot  of  mine  shall  not  be 
touched  by  any  of  these  maids  who  serve  the  palace, 
—  unless  indeed  there  be  some  aged  woman,  sober- 
minded,  one  who  has  borne  as  many  sorrows  as  myself. 
It  would  not  trouble  me  that  such  a  one  should  touch 
my  feet." 

Then  said  to  him  heedful  Penelope  :  "  Dear  stran- 
ger, —  and  none  discreet  as  you  among  the  traveling 
strangers  has  been  more  welcome  at  my  house,  so 
suitably  discreet  is  all  you  say,  —  I  have  an  aged 
woman  of  an  understanding  heart,  who  gently  nursed 


XIX.  354-389.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  307 

and  tended  that  unfortunate  and  took  him  in  her  arms 
the  day  his  mother  bore  him.  She,  feeble  as  she  is, 
shall  wash  your  feet.  Come,  rise  up,  heedful  Eury- 
cleia,  and  wash  a  man  old  as  your  master  !  Perhaps 
Odysseus  is  already  such  as  he,  in  feet  and  hands  ; 
for  soon  in  times  of  trouble  men  grow  old." 

As  she  spoke  thus,  the  old  woman  hid  her  face  in  her 
hands  and  shed  hot  tears  and  uttered  wailing  words  : 

"  Alas  for  you,  my  child !  Powerless  am  I.  Zeus 
surely  hated  you  beyond  all  humankind,  godfearing 
though  you  were.  For  no  man  ever  burned  to  Zeus, 
the  Thunderer,  fat  thighs  so  good  or  such  choice  heca- 
tombs as  you  have  offered  when  you  prayed  to  reach 
a  hale  old  age  and  rear  your  gallant  son.  And  yet 
from  you  alone  he  utterly  cut  off  the  day  of  coming 
home.  Even  so  perhaps  women  reviled  him  too  at 
foreign  tables,  when  he  reached  some  lordly  house,  just 
as  these  brutes  are  all  reviling  you.  To  shun  their 
insults  and  their  many  taunts,  you  do  not  let  them 
wash  you  ;  and  I,  not  loath,  am  bidden  to  it  by  the 
daughter  of  Icarius,  heedful  Penelope.  So  I  will 
wash  your  feet,  both  for  Penelope's  own  sake  and  for 
your  own,  because  my  heart  within  is  stirred  by  sor- 
row. Yet  mark  the  words  I  say  !  Many  a  way-worn 
stranger  has  come  hither  ;  but  one  so  like  Odysseus  I 
declare  I  never  saw,  as  you  are  like  him,  form,  and 
voice  and  feet." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said  :  "  Yes, 
woman,  so  says  every  one  who  sees  us  two,  that  we 
are  like  each  other,  even  as  you  shrewdly  say." 

As  he  spoke  thus,  the  old  woman  took  the  glittering 
basin  which  she  used  for  washing  feet  and  poured  in 
much  cold  water,  afterwards  adding  warm.  Now 
Odysseus  was  sitting  by  the  hearth,  but  soon  turned 


308  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XIX.  390-420. 

toward  the  darkness  ;  for  suddenly  into  his  mind  there 
came  the  thought  that  in  touching  him  she  might  de- 
tect the  scar  and  thus  the  facts  be  known.  So  she 
drew  near  him  and  began  to  wash  her  master  ;  and 
presently  she  found  the  scar  which  a  boar  inflicted 
long  ago  with  his  white  tusk,  when  to  Parnassus  came 
Odysseus  to  see  Autolycus  and  his  sons.  Good  Au- 
tolycus  was  the  father  of  the  mother  of  Odysseus, 
and  was  famous  among  men  for  thievery  and  oaths. 
Hermes,  the  god,  had  given  him  skill,  because  to  him 
Autolycus  had  burned  well-pleasing  thighs  of  lambs 
and  kids  ;  so  Hermes  gladly  served  him.  Now  Au- 
tolycus, visiting  the  fertile  land  of  Ithaca,  found  there 
his  daughter's  son,  a  child  new-born  ;  and  after  supper 
Eurycleia  laid  the  child  upon  his  knees,  and  speaking 
thus  she  said : 

"  Autolycus,  choose  now  a  name  to  give  your  child's 
own  child.     He  has  been  wished  for  long." 

Then  answered  her  Autolycus  and  said  :  "  My  son- 
in-law  and  daughter,  give  him  the  name  I  say.  Since 
I  come  hither  odious  to  many  men  and  women  on  the 
bounteous  earth,  therefore  Odysseus  be  his  name. 
And  I,  when  he  is  grown  and  visits  the  great  palace 
of  his  mother's  kin  upon  Parnassus,  where  my  posses- 
sions lie,  will  give  thereof  to  him  and  send  him  home 
rejoicing." 

On  this  account  Odysseus  came  to  get  the  glorious 
gifts.  And  Autolycus  and  his  sons  gave  him  a  wel- 
come with  friendly  hands  and  courteous  words ;  and 
Amphithea,  his  mother's  mother,  took  Odysseus  in  her 
arms  and  kissed  his  face  and  both  his  beauteous  eyes. 
Then  Autolycus  bade  his  famous  sons  to  lay  the  dinner 
ready,  and  they  hearkened  to  his  call.  They  quickly 
brought  an  ox,  five  years  old,  and  fla}red  and  dressed 


XIX.  421-455.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  309 

it,  laid  it  asunder,  sliced  it  with  skill,  stuck  it  on  spits, 
"and  roasting  it  with  care  served  out  the  portions. 
Thus  all  throughout  the  day  till  setting  sun  they  held 
their  feast.  There  was  no  lack  of  appetite  for  the  im- 
partial feast.  But  when  the  sun  had  set  and  darkness 
came,  they  laid  them  down  and  took  the  gift  of  sleep. 
When  now  the  early  rosy-fingered  dawn  appeared, 
they  started  on  the  hunt ;  the  dogs  went  forth,  the  men 
themselves,  —  the  sons  of  Autolycus,  —  and  with  them 
went  royal  Odysseus  too.  They  climbed  the  steep 
and  wood-clad  mountain  cf  Parnassus  and  soon  they 
reached  its  windy  ridges.  Just  then  the  sun  began  to 
touch  the  fields  as  he  ascended  from  the  calm  and 
brimming  stream  of  Ocean.  And  now  to  a  glen  the 
prickers  came.  Before  them,  following  the  tracks, 
the  hounds  ran  on,  the  sons  of  Autolycus  hastening 
after.  With  the  sons  went  royal  Odysseus,  close  on 
the  hounds,  wielding  his  outstretched  spear.  In  a 
dense  thicket  here  a  huge  boar  lay.  It  was  a  spot  no 
force  of  wind  with  its  chill  breath  could  pierce,  no  sun- 
beams smite,  nor  rain  pass  through,  so  dense  it  was, 
and  a  thick  fall  of  leaves  was  in  it.  Here  round  the 
boar  there  came  the  tramp  of  men  and  dogs,  as  the 
prickers  pushed  along.  Facing  them  from  his  lair, 
with  bristling  back,  fire  flashing  in  his  eyes,  the  boar 
stood  close  at  bay.  Odysseus  first  sprang  forward, 
raising  the  long  spear  in  his  sinewy  hand,  eager  to 
give  the  blow  ;  but  the  boar  was  quick  and  struck  him 
on  the  knee,  and  by  a  side-thrust  of  his  tusk  tore  the 
flesh  deep,  but  reached  no  bone.  And  now  Odysseus, 
by  a  downward  blow,  struck  the  right  shoulder  of  the 
boar ;  clean  through  it  the  bright  spear-point  passed. 
Down  in  the  dust  he  fell  with  a  moan,  and  his  life 
flew  away.     Then  the  good  sons  of  Autolycus  looked 


310  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XIX.  456-487. 

to  the  boar ;  and  the  wound  of  gallant  princely  Odys- 
seus they  bound  up  skillfully,  and  with  a  spelf 
stanched  the  black  blood,  and  soon  they  reached  their 
father's  house.  So  Autolycus  and  his  sons  when  they 
had  fully  healed  Odysseus  and  given  him  glorious 
gifts,  —  pleasing  by  kindness  him  who  pleased  them 
too,  —  sent  him  with  speed  to  Ithaca,  where  his  father 
and  honored  mother  rejoiced  at  his  return  and  ques- 
tioned much  how  he  had  got  the  scar.  He  told  them 
how,  while  he  was  hunting,  a  boar  inflicted  it  with  his 
white  tusk  when  he  had  gone  to  Parnassus  with  Au- 
tolycus' sons. 

This  was  the  scar  the  woman  felt  with  her  flat 
hand.  She  knew  it  by  the  touch  and  dropped  the 
foot.  The  leg  fell  in  the  basin ;  the  copper  rang,  and 
tilting  sidewise  let  all  the  water  run  upon  the  ground. 
Then  joy  and  grief  together  seized  her  breast ;  her 
two  eyes  filled  with  tears,  her  full  voice  stayed  ;  and 
laying  her  hand  upon  Odysseus'  chin  she  said : 

"  You  really  are  Odysseus,  my  dear  child,  and  I  never 
knew  you  till  I  handled  my  master  o'er  and  o'er  ! ' 

She  spoke  and  cast  her  eyes  upon  Penelope,  mean- 
ing to  let  her  know  her  lord  was  there.  But  Pene- 
lope  could  not  catch  the  glance  nor  understand,  be- 
cause Athene  drew  away  her  notice ;  and  Odysseus, 
feeling  for  Eurycleia's  throat,  clutched  it  with  his 
rio-ht  hand,  then  drew  her  closer  toward  him  with  his 
left  and  said  : 

"  Why,  mother,  will  you  kill  me  ?  It  was  yourself 
who  nursed  me  at  the  breast ;  and  now  through  many 
hardships  I  come  in  the  twentieth  year  to  my  own  na- 
tive land.  Though  you  have  found  me  out  and  a  god 
inspired  your  heart,  be  silent,  lest  some  other  person 
in  the  hall  may  know.     Or  else,  —  I  tell  you,  and  it 


XIX.  488-520. J  THE   ODYSSEY.  311 

shall  be  done, — if  God  by  me  subdues  the  lordly 
suitors,  I  will  not  spare  even  you,  nurse  though  you 
are,  when  I  shall  slay  the  other  serving-women  in  my 
halls." 

Then  answered  heedful  Eurycleia :  "  My  child, 
what  word  has  passed  the  barrier  of  your  teeth  ?  You 
know  how  steadfast,  how  inflexible  my  spirit  is.  I 
shall  hold  fast  like  stubborn  rock  or  iron.  And  this  I 
will  say  farther  :  mark  it  well.  If  God  by  you  sub- 
dues the  lordly  suitors,  then  I  will  name  the  women 
of  the  hall  and  tell  you  who  dishonor  you  and  who  are 
guiltless." 

But  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said :  "  Mother, 
why  talk  of  them  ?  You  have  no  need.  I  will  myself 
observe  them  well  and  find  out  each.  Be  quiet  with 
your  story  !     Leave  the  matter  to  the  gods  !  " 

So  he  spoke,  and  through  the  hall  forth  went  the 
aged  woman  to  fetch  water  for  his  feet ;  for  all  the 
first  was  spilled.  Now  when  she  had  washed  him  and 
anointed  him  with  oil,  again  Odysseus  drew  his  bench 
closer  beside  the  fire,  to  warm  himself,  —  but  with  his 
tatters  hid  the  scar,  —  and  thus  began  heedful  Pene- 
lope : 

"  Stranger,  there  is  but  little  more  that  I  will  ask  ; 
because  the  season  of  sweet  rest  will  soon  be  here, 
for  those  to  whom  kind  sleep  will  come  when  they 
are  sad.  But  upon  me  God  sends  incessant  sorrow. 
Day  after  day  my  joys  are  tears  and  sighs,  as  I  watch 
my  household  tasks  and  watch  my  women.  Then 
when  night  comes  and  slumber  visits  all,  I  lie  in  bed, 
and  crowding  on  my  heavy  heart  sharp  cares  sting 
me  to  weeping.  As  when  Pandareos'  daughter,  the 
russet  nightingale,  sings  sweetly  at  the  coming  in  of 
spring,  perched  in  the  thick-leaved  trees,  and  to  and 


312  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XIX.  521-553. 

fro  pours  out  her  thrilling  voice,  in  lamentation  for 
her  dear  child,  Itylus,  whom  with  the  sword  she 
one  day  blindly  slew,  her  son  by  royal  Zethus  ;  so 
does  my  doubtful  heart  toss  to  and  fro  whether  to 
bide  beside  my  son  and  keep  all  here  in  safety,  —  my 
goods,  my  maids,  and  my  great  high-roofed  house,  — 
and  thus  revere  my  husband's  bed  and  heed  the  public 
voice,  or  finally  to  follow  some  chief  of  the  Achae- 
ans  who  wooes  me  in  my  hall  with  countless  gifts. 
My  son,  while  but  a  child  and  slack  of  understanding, 
did  not  permit  my  marrying  and  departing  from  my 
husband's  home  ;  but  now  that  he  is  grown  and  come 
to  man's  estate,  he  prays  me  to  go  home  again  and 
leave  the  hall,  so  troubled  is  he  for  that  substance 
which  the  Achaeans  waste.  But  come,  interpret  now 
and  hear  this  dream  of  mine.  I  have  twenty  geese 
about  the  place  who  pick  up  corn  out  of  the  water, 
and  I  amuse  myself  with  watching  them.  But  from 
the  mountain  came  a  great  hook-beaked  eagle  and 
broke  the  necks  of  all  and  killed  my  geese.  In  heaps 
they  lay,  scattered  about  the  buildings,  while  he  was 
borne  aloft  into  the  sacred  sky.  So  I  began  to  weep 
and  wail,  —  still  in  my  dream,  —  and  fair-haired 
Achaean  damsels  gathered  round  and  found  me  sadly 
sobbing  that  the  eagle  killed  my  geese.  Then  down 
again  he  came,  lit  on  a  jutting  rafter,  and  with  a  hu- 
man voice  he  checked  my  tears  and  said  :  '  Courage, 

0  daughter  of  renowned  Icarius  !  This  is  no  dream, 
but  true  reality,  which  yet  shall  come  to  pass.  The 
geese  are  suitors ;  and  I,  the  eagle,  was  at  the  first  a 
bird,  but  now,  this  second  time,  am  come  your  husband 
to  bring  a  ghastly  doom  on  all  the  suitors.'  At  these 
his  words  sweet  slumber  left  me,  and  opening  my  eyes 

1  saw  the  geese  about  the  buildings  devouring  corn  be- 
side the  trough  just  as  they  used  to  do." 


XIX.  554r-587.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  313 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said: 
"  Lady,  the  dream  cannot  be  understood  by  wrest- 
in  g  it  to  other  meanings ;  Odysseus  surely  has  him- 
self revealed  what  yet  shall  be.  The  suitors'  over- 
throw is  plain  :  on  all  it  falls ;  none  shall  escape  from 
death  and  doom." 

But  heedful  Penelope  said  to  him  once  more: 
"  Stranger,  in  truth  dreams  do  arise  perplexed  and 
hard  to  tell,  dreams  which  come  not,  in  men's  experi- 
ence, to  their  full  issue.  Two  gates  there  are  for  un- 
substantial dreams,  one  made  of  horn  and  one  of 
ivory.  The  dreams  that  pass  through  the  carved 
ivory  delude  and  bring  us  tales  that  turn  to  naught ; 
those  that  come  forth  through  polished  horn  accomplish 
real  things,  whenever  seen.  Yet  through  this  gate 
came  not  I  think  my  own  strange  dream.  Ah,  welcome, 
were  it  so,  to  me  and  to  my  child  !  But  this  I  will  say 
farther ;  mark  it  well.  This  is  the  fatal  dawn  which 
parts  me  from  Odysseus'  home  ;  for  now  I  shall  pro- 
pose a  contest  with  the  axes  which  when  at  home  he 
used  to  set  in  line,  like  trestles,  twelve  in  all ;  then  he 
would  stand  a  great  way  off  and  send  an  arrow 
through.  This  contest  I  shall  now  propose  to  all  the 
suitors.  And  whoever  with  his  hands  shall  lightliest 
bend  the  bow  and  shoot  through  all  twelve  axes,  him 
I  will  follow  and  forsake  this  home,  this  bridal  home, 
so  very  beautiful  and  full  of  wealth,  a  place  I  think  I 
ever  shall  remember  even  in  my  dreams." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said :  "  O 
honored  wife  of  Laertes'  son,  Odysseus,  delay  no 
longer  this  contest  at  the  hall ;  for  wise  Odysseus  will 
be  here  before  the  suitors,  handling  the  polished  bow, 
can  stretch  the  string  and  shoot  an  arrow  through  the 
iron." 


314  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XIX.  588-604. 

Then  said  to  him  heedful  Penelope :  "  Stranger,  if 
you  were  willing  to  sit  beside  me  here  and  entertain 
me,  no  sleep  should  ever  fall  upon  my  eyes.  And  yet 
one  cannot  be  forever  without  sleep  ;  for  to  each  thing 
the  immortals  fix.  a  season,  to  be  ordained  for  men 
upon  the  fruitful  earth.  -  So  I  will  go  to  my  upper 
chamber  and  lay  me  on  my  bed,  which  has  become 
for  me  a  bed  of  sorrows,  ever  watered  with  my  tears 
since  Odysseus  went  away  to  see  accursed  Ilios, — 
name  never  to  be  named.  There  I  must  lie.  Do  you 
lie  in  the  hall.  Make  a  bed  upon  the  floor,  or  the 
maids  shall  bring  you  bedding." 

So  saying,  she  went  to  her  bright  upper  chamber, 
yet  not  alone ;  beside  her  went  her  waiting-women 
too.  And  coming  to  the  chamber  with  the  maids,  she 
there  bewailed  Odysseus,  her  dear  husband,  till  on 
her  lids  clear-eyed  Athene  caused  a  sweet  sleep  to  fall. 


XX. 

BEFORE   THE    SLAUGHTER. 

Royal  Odysseus  made  his  bed  within  the  porch. 
Upon  the  floor  he  spread  an  untanned  hide,  and  on  it 
many  fleeces  of  the  sheep  which  the  Achaeans  had 
been  slaying ;  and  when  he  had  laid  him  down,  Eury- 
nome  threw  over  him  a  cloak.  So,  meditating  in  his 
heart  how  he  might  harm  the  suitors,  here  lay  Odys- 
seus sleepless.  Forth  from  the  hall  came  women  who 
had  long  been  paramours  of  the  suitors,  now  making 
jests  and  merriment  among  themselves.  The  heart  of 
Odysseus  stirred  within,  and  in  his  mind  and  heart  he 
doubted  much  whether  to  hasten  after  and  deal  out 
death  to  each,  or  to  allow  to  the  audacious  suitors  one 
last  and  latest  night.  Within  him  growled  his  spirit. 
Even  as  a  dog  walks  round  her  tender  young,  growl- 
ing at  any  man  she  does  not  know  and  resolute  to  fight 
him ;  so  within  growled  his  spirit,  wroth  at  these  evil 
deeds.  But  he  smote  upon  his  breast  and  thus  re- 
proved his  heart : 

"  Bear  up,  my  heart !  A  thing  more  hideous  than 
this  you  once  endured  with  patience,  that  day  the 
Cyclops,  unrestrained  in  fury,  devoured  your  sturdy 
comrades.  Then  you  bore  up  till  crafty  planning 
brought  from  the  cave  you  who  had  thought  to  die." 

So  he  spoke,  chiding  the  very  spirit  in  his  breast ; 
and  therefore  in  obedience  his  heart  held  firm  and 
steadfast,  yet  he  himself  kept  tossing  to  and  fro.     As 


316  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XX.  25-60. 

when  a  man  near  a  great  glowing  fire  turns  to  and 
fro  a  sausage,  full  of  fat  and  blood,  anxious  to  have 
it  quickly  roast ;  so  to  and  fro  Odysseus  tossed,  and 
pondered  how  to  lay  hands  upon  the  shameless  suit- 
ors, —  he  being  alone,  and  they  so  many.  Near  him 
Athene  drew,  descending  out  of  heaven.  In  a  wo- 
man's form  she  stood  beside  his  head,  and  thus  ad- 
dressed him : 

"  Why  wakeful  still,  unhappiest  of  men  ?  This  is 
your  home,  and  in  this  home  your  wife  and  child,  even 
such  a  son  as  others  pray  for." 

But  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said :  "  In  all 
this,  goddess,  you  speak  rightly ;  and  yet  my  heart 
within  is  pondering  how  to  lay  hands  upon  the  shame- 
less suitors,  —  I  being  alone,  while  they  are  always 
here  together.  A  graver  fear  besides  I  ponder  in  my 
mind  ;  suppose  I  slay  them,  by  the  aid  of  Zeus  and 
you,  where  shall  I  flee  then  ?     Tell  me  this,  I  pray." 

Then  said  to  him  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene  : 
"  O  doubter !  Men  trust  weaker  friends,  friends  who 
are  mortal  and  not  wise  as  I.  I  am  a  god  and  will 
protect  you  to  the  end,  through  all  your  toils.  And 
let  me  tell  you  plainly  :  should  fifty  troops  of  mortal 
men  stand  round  about  us,  eager  in  the  fight  to  slay, 
you  still  might  drive  away  from  them  their  oxen 
and  sturdy  sheep.  Nay  !  Nay  !  Let  slumber  come  ! 
Evil  it  is  to  watch  and  wake  all  the  night  long.  You 
shall  come  forth  from  peril  yet." 

So  spoke  she,  and  poured  sleep  upon  his  e}relids  ; 
and  then  the  heavenly  goddess  departed  to  Olympus. 
But  as  the  slumber  seized  him,  freeing  his  heart  from 
care,  easing  his  members,  his  faithful  wife  awoke,  and 
sitting  up  in  her  soft  bed  began  to  weep.  When  she 
had  satisfied  her  heart  with  weeping,  the  royal  lady 
prayed,  and  first  to  Artemis  : 


XX.  61-95.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  317 

"  O  honored  goddess  Artemis,  daughter  of  Zeus, 
strike  now  I  pray  an  arrow  in  my  breast  and  take 
away  my  life  this  very  instant ;  or  let  a  sweeping- 
storm  bear  me  its  windy  way  and  cast  me  in  the 
streams  of  restless  Ocean !  As  when  storms  seized 
Pandareos'  daughters,  whose  parents  gods  had  slain 
and  they  were  left  at  home  as  orphans,  then  goddess 
Aphrodite  brought  them  cheese,  sweet  honey  and 
pleasant  wine ;  Here  endowed  them,  beyond  all  other 
women,  with  beauty  and  understanding  ;  chaste  Arte- 
mis gave  stature  ;  Athene  taught  them  skill  in  honor- 
able work.  But  while  heavenly  Aphrodite  went  to 
high  Olympus,  to  win  the  maids  the  final  boon  of 
happy  marriage,  —  a  boon  from  Zeus,  the  Thunderer, 
who  understands  all  well,  all  fortunes  good  or  ill  of 
mortal  men,  —  the  Harpies  swept  away  the  maids  and 
gave  them  over  to  be  servants  to  the  dread  Avengers. 
Even  so  may  those  who  have  their  dwellings  on  Olym- 
pus blot  out  me,  or  else  may  I  receive  a  shaft  from 
fair-haired  Artemis,  that  I  may  go  to  my  dread  grave 
seeing  Odysseus  still,  and  never  gladden  heart  of 
meaner  husband !  Yet  ills  like  these  are  bearable  if, 
with  a  burdened  heart,  one  weeps  by  day  and  then  by 
night  has  sleep.  For  such  an  one  forgets  all  good 
and  ill  when  once  the  eyelids  close.  But  as  for  me, 
Heaven  sends  me  cruel  dreams.  Again  to-night  there 
lay  beside  me  one  like  him,  such  as  he  was  when  he 
departed  with  the  army.  My  heart  was  glad.  I  said 
it  was  no  dream,  but  truth  at  last." 

While  she  was  speaking  gold  -  throned  morning 
came.  And  as  she  wept,  royal  Odysseus  heard  her 
voice  and  mused  awhile.  In  his  heart  she  seemed  to 
know  him  and  to  stand  beside  his  head.  Gathering 
up  the  cloak  and  fleece  in  which  he  slept,  he   laid 


318  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XX.  9G-124. 

them  in  the  hall  upon  a  chair,  carried  the  ox-hide  out 
of  doors  and  spread  it  down,  and  with  uplifted  hands 
prayed  thus  to  Zeus  : 

"  O  father  Zeus,  if  of  good  will  ye  gods  have  led 
me  over  field  and  flood  to  my  own  land,  —  though 
ill  ye  brought  me  also,  —  let  some  one  now  awake 
speak  a  good  word  indoors,  and  another  sign  from 
Zeus  be  given  outside  the  house  !  " 

So  spoke  he  in  his  prayer,  and  wise  Zeus  heard  him 
and  straightway  thundered  out  of  bright  Olympus, 
out  of  the  clouds  above.  Royal  Odysseus  was  made 
glad.  Moreover  a  woman  grinding  corn  sent  forth 
an  ominous  cry  out  of  the  house  hard  by,  where  stood 
the  mills  of  the  shepherd  of  the  people.  Twelve 
women  in  all  worked  here,  preparing  barley-meal  and 
corn,  men's  marrow.  The  rest  were  sleeping,  having 
ground  their  wheat ;  one  only  had  not  ended,  for  she 
was  very  weak.  She,  stopping  at  last  her  mill,  ut- 
tered these  words,  an  omen  for  her  master  : 

"  O  father  Zeus,  who  rulest  over  gods  and  men,  loud 
hast  thou  thundered  from  the  starry  sky,  and  no 
cloud  anywhere.  Surely  in  this  thou  givest  man  a 
sign.  Then  bring  to  pass  for  miserable  me  the  words 
I  speak.  May  the  suitors  to-day  for  the  last  and 
latest  time  hold  their  glad  feast  within  Odysseus'  hall ! 
They  who  with  galling  labor  made  my  knees  grow 
weak,  while  I  prepared  them  meal,  may  they  now  feast 
their  last!" 

She  spoke,  and  royal  Odysseus  was  gladdened  by 
her  cry  and  by  the  thunder  of  Zeus.  He  said  that 
woe  was  come  upon  the  guilty. 

And  now  the  other  handmaids  of  the  goodly  palace 
of  Odysseus  came  together  and  kindled  on  the  hearth 
a  steady  fire.     Telemachus  also,  a  mortal  like  a  god, 


XX.  125-156.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  319 

rose  from  his  bed,  put  on  his  clothes,  slung  his  sharp 
sword  about  his  shoulder,  under  his  shining-  feet  bound 
his  fair  sandals,  then  took  his  ponderous  spear,  tipped 
with  sharp  bronze,  and  went  and  stood  upon  the 
threshold,  saying  to  Eurycleia : 

"  Good  nurse,  have  you  provided  for  the  stranger 
in  the  house  comfort  in  bed  and  food  ?  Or  does  he 
lie  neglected?  That  is  my  mother's  way,  wise  though 
she  is.  Blindly  she  honors  one  of  the  meaner  sort, 
and  sends  the  better  man  away  unhonored." 

Then  heedful  Eurycleia  answered :  "  Now  do  not 
blame  a  blameless  person,  child !  He  sat  and  drank 
his  wine  as  long  as  he  inclined,  and  he  said  he  wanted 
no  more  bread  ;  she  asked  him  that.  And  as  soon  as 
he  began  to  think  of  rest  and  sleep,  she  bade  her  dam- 
sels spread  his  bed.  Then  he,  like  a  man  quite  mean 
and  miserable,  refused  to  sleep  upon  a  bed  and  under 
blankets,  but  on  an  undressed  hide  and  fleecy  sheep- 
skins lay  down  within  the  porch.  We  put  a  cloak 
upon  him." 

So  she  spoke  ;  and  through  the  hall  forth  went  Te- 
lemachus,  his  spear  in  hand,  two  swift  dogs  following 
after.  He  hastened  to  the  assembly  to  join  the  mailed 
Achaeans.  But  noble  Eurycleia,  daughter  of  Ops, 
Peisenor's  son,  called  to  the  women : 

"  Come,  stir  about  and  sweep  the  house  and  sprin- 
kle it,  and  beat  the  purple  coverings  on  the  shapely 
chairs.  And  others,  take  your  sponges  and  wipe  off 
all  the  tables,  and  clean  the  mixing-bowls  and  well- 
wrought  double  cups.  *  And  others  still,  go  to  the  well 
for  water,  and  fetch  it  quickly  here.  It  is  not  long 
the  suitors  will  be  absent  from  the  hall.  They  will 
be  here  right  early.  To-day  is  for  them  all  a  holi- 
day." 


320  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XX.  157-190. 

She  spoke,  and  very  willingly  they  heeded  and 
obeyed.  Twenty  went  to  the  dark  well ;  the  others 
plied  their  tasks  with  skill  about  the  house.  Soon 
came  the  Achaeans'  laboring  men,  who  neatly  and 
skillfully  split  logs  of  wood ;  there  came  the  women 
also,  returning  from  the  well.  After  them  came  the 
swineherd,  driving  three  fat  hogs,  the  best  of  all  his 
herds.  He  let  them  feed  about  the  pleasant  yard, 
and  said  to  Odysseus  kindly  : 

"  Stranger,  do  the  Achaeans  look  after  you  any 
better,  or  do  they  still  insult  you  in  the  hall,  as  at  the 
first?" 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said :  "  Eu- 
maeus,  may  the  gods  requite  the  wrongs  which  these 
in  their  abominable  pride  work  in  a  house  not  theirs ! 
They  have  no  touch  of  shame." 

So  they  conversed  together.  Melanthius  now  drew 
near,  the  goatherd,  driving  the  goats  that  were  the 
best  of  all  his  flock,  to  make  the  suitors'  dinner.  Two 
shepherds  followed  after.  He  tied  his  goats  under  the 
echoing  portico  and  said  to  Odysseus  rudely : 

"  Stranger,  will  you  still  be  a  nuisance  in  the  house 
and  beg  of  people?  Will  you  not  quit  our  doors? 
We  never  shall  quite  settle  things,  I  think,  until  you 
taste  my  fists.  Beyond  all  decency  you  keep  on  beg- 
ging.    Surely  there  are  Achaean  feasts  elsewhere." 

He  spoke,  but  not  a  word  did  wise  Odysseus  an- 
swer.    Silent  he  shook  his  head,  brooding  on  evil. 

A  third  now  joined  them,  Philoetius,  ever  foremost, 
and  brought  the  suitors  a  barren  cow  and  fatted  goats. 
The  ferrymen  brought  them  over,  they  who  bring;  peo- 
ple too,  whenever  anybody  comes  their  way.  He  tied 
the  cattle  carefully  under  the  echoing  portico  and 
drawing  near  the  swineherd  asked : 


XX.  191-223.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  321 

"  Who  is  this  stranger,  swineherd,  lately  come,  and 
staying  at  the  hall  ?  Out  of  what  tribe  does  he  pro- 
fess to  be  ?  Where  are  his  kinsmen  and  his  native 
fields  ?  Poor  man !  He  seems  in  bearing  like  a 
lordly  king.  The  gods  may  well  send  homeless  people 
troubles  when  even  for  kings  they  weave  a  web  of 
grief." 

He  spoke,  and  turning  to  Odysseus  gave  his  right 
hand  in  welcome,  and  speaking  in  winged  words  he 
said  :  "  Hail,  good  old  stranger  !  May  happiness  be 
yours  in  time  to  come  !  Now  you  are  bound  by  many 
ills.  O  father  Zeus,  none  of  the  gods  is  crueler  than 
thou !  Thou  carest  not  that  men,  when  thou  hast 
given  them  birth,  be  plunged  in  misery  and  sharp  dis- 
tress. A  sweat  came  over  me  in  looking  at  the  man ; 
my  eyes  were  filled  with  tears  for  memory  of  Odys- 
seus ;  for  he  also,  I  suppose,  in  just  such  tatters,  is  a 
wanderer  among  men,  — if  he  indeed  yet  lives  and  sees 
the  sunshine.  But  if  he  is  already  dead  and  in  the 
house  of  Hades,  then  woe  is  me  for  good  Odysseus,  who 
gave  me  charge  of  cattle  when  I  was  but  a  boy  in  the 
land  of  the  Cephallenians.  And  now  the  herds  have 
grown  enormously.  No  breed  of  broad-browed  cattle 
ever  bladed  better.  But  strangers  bid  me  drive  these 
now  for  them  to  eat.  For  the  son  of  the  house  they 
do  not  care,  nor  do  they  tremble  at  the  wrath  of 
gods  ;  but  they  are  bent  on  parting  out  their  long- 
gone  master's  goods.  And  as  for  me,  around  one 
point  my  heart  within  keeps  turning  :  't  is  very  bad 
while  the  son  lives  to  go  to  the  land  of  strangers,  cattle 
and  all,  to  foreigners  ;  worse  still  to  stay  with  stran- 
gers' herds  and  sit  about  and  suffer.  Certainly  long 
ago  I  would  have  fled  and  found  some  other  mighty 
king,  —  life  here  cannot  be  borne,  —  but  still  I  think 


322  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XX.  224-252. 

of  that  unfortunate,  how  he  may  come  from  some- 
where, and  make  a  scattering  of  the  suitors  up  and 
down  the  house." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said: 
"  Herdsman,  because  you  do  not  seem  a  common, 
senseless  person,  but  I  perceive  wisdom  is  in  your 
heart,  I  will  speak  out  and  swear  a  solemn  oath  on 
what  I  say :  so  first  of  all  the  gods  be  witness  Zeus, 
and  let  this  hospitable  table  and  the  hearth  of  good 
Odysseus  whereto  I  come  be  witness  ;  while  you  are 
here  Odysseus  shall  return,  and  you  with  your  own 
eyes  shall  see  him,  if  you  will,  slaying  the  suitors  who 
now  lord  it  here." 

Then  answered  him  the  herdsman  of  the  cattle : 
"  Ah  stranger,  may  the  son  of  Kronos  fulfill  these 
words  of  yours !  Then  shall  you  know  what  might  is 
mine  and  how  my  hands  obey." 

So  also  did  Eumaeus  pray  to  all  the  gods  that  wise 
Odysseus  might  return  to  his  own  home.  So  they  con- 
versed together. 

Now  for  Telemachus  the  suitors  had  been  plotting 
death  and  doom.  But  toward  them,  on  the  left,  a 
bird  came  flying,  a  soaring  eagle,  clutching  a  timid 
dove  ;  whereat  Amphi nonius  called  to  them  thus  and 
said : 

"  Ah  friends,  this  plan  of  ours  will  not  run  well, 
this  murder  of  Telemachus.  Let  us  rather  turn  to 
feasting." 

So  said  Amphinomus,  and  his  saying  pleased  them. 
Entering  the  house  of  princely  Odysseus,  they  threw 
their  coats  upon  the  couches  and  the  chairs,  and  they 
began  to  kill  great  sheep  and  fatted  goats,  to  kill 
sleek  pigs  and  the  heifer  of  the  herd.  They  roasted 
the  inward  parts  and  passed  them  round,  and  mixed 


XX.  253-283.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  323 

wine  in  the  mixers.  The  swineherd  passed  the  cups  ; 
Philoetius,  ever  foremost,  handed  them  bread  in  goodly 
baskets ;  Melantheus  poured  the  wine.  So  on  the  food 
spread  out  before  them  they  laid  hands. 

And  now  Telemachus,  with  crafty  purpose,  seated 
Odysseus  within  the  stately  hall  by  the  stone  thresh- 
old, providing  him  a  common  bench  and  little  table. 
He  gave  him  portions  of  the  inward  parts  and,  pour- 
ing him  wine  into  a  golden  cup,  he  thus  addressed 
him : 

"  Sit  here  among  the  men  and  sip  your  wine,  and  I 
will  keep  you  from  the  taunts  and  blows  of  all  the 
suitors.  This  is  no  public  house.  It  is  Odysseus' 
own,  acquired  for  me.  Therefore  you  suitors  check 
your  taste  for  insult  and  abuse,  or  else  there  may  be 
strife  and  quarrel  here." 

He  spoke,  and  all  with  teeth  set  in  their  lips  mar- 
veled because  Telemachus  had  spoken  boldly.  Then 
said  Antinoiis,  Eupeithes'  son :  "  Harsh  as  it  is,  Achae- 
ans,  let  us  take  the  bidding  of  Telemachus.  He 
speaks  with  lofty  threatening.  Zeus,  son  of  Kronos, 
hindered,  or  long  ago  we  in  the  hall  had  stopped  him, 
shrill  talker  though  he  be." 

So  said  Antinoiis  ;  Telemachus  did  not  heed  his 
words.  For  pages  came,  leading  along  the  town  a 
hecatomb  of  cattle  sacred  to  the  gods.  Long-haired 
Achaeans,  too,  assembled  in  the  shady  grove  of  the 
archer-king  Apollo. 

But  when  the  rest  had  roasted  the  outer  flesh  and 
drawn  it  off,  dividing  up  the  portions  they  held  a  fa- 
mous feast.  And  those  who  served  set  for  Odvsseus 
a  portion  quite  as  large  as  that  they  took  themselves  ; 
for  this  was  the  bidding  of  Telemachus,  the  son  of 
princely  Odysseus. 


324  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XX.  284-316. 

Yet  Athene  allowed  the  haughty  suitors  not  alto- 
gether yet  to  cease  from  biting  scorn.  She  wished 
more  pain  to  pierce  the  heart  of  Laertes'  son,  Odys- 
seus. There  was  among  the  suitors  a  man  of  lawless 
life ;  Ctesippus  was  his  name ;  he  lived  in  Same. 
Proud  of  vast  wealth,  he  wooed  the  wife  of  Odysseus, 
long  away.  He  it  was  now  who  thus  addressed  the 
audacious  suitors  : 

"Hearken,  you  haughty  suitors,  while  I  speak. 
This  stranger  here  awhile  ago  received  a  portion,  and, 
as  was  proper,  one  as  large  as  ours ;  for  it  is  neither 
honorable  nor  fitting  to  worry  strangers  who  may 
reach  this  palace  of  Telemachus.  Come  then  and  let 
me  also  give  a  hospitable  gift,  and  he  shall  have 
wherewith  to  give  a  present  to  the  bath-keeper  or  to 
some  servant  of  the  house  of  great  Odysseus." 

So  saying,  he  flung  with  his  strong  hand  an  ox-hoof 
which  lay  near,  taking  it  from  the  basket.  Odysseus 
with  a  quick  turning  of  the  head  avoided  it,  and  in 
his  heart  smiled  grimly.  It  struck  the  massive  wall. 
But  Telemachus  rebuked  Ctesippus  thus  : 

"  Surely,  Ctesippus,  that  was  lucky  for  your  life. 
You  missed  our  guest.  He  shunned  your  missile. 
Else  I  had  run  you  through  the  middle  with  my 
pointed  spear,  and  in  the  place  of  wedding-feast  your 
father  had  been  busied  with  a  funeral  here.  Let  no 
man  in  this  house  henceforth  show  rudeness ;  for  I 
now  mark  and  understand  each  deed,  good  deeds  as 
well  as  bad.  Before,  I  was  a  child.  And  even  yet 
we  bear  what  nevertheless  we  see,  —  sheep  slain,  wine 
drunk,  bread  wasted,  —  for  hard  it  is  for  one  to  cope 
with  many.  Nay  then,  do  me  no  more  deliberate 
wrong.  But  if  you  seek  to  slay  me  with  the  sword, 
that  I  would  choose  ;  and  better  far  were  death  than 


XX.  317-350.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  325 

constantly  behold  disgraceful  deeds,  strangers  abused, 
and  damsels  dragged  to  shame  through  the  fair  pal- 
ace." 

So  he  spoke  and  all  were  hushed  to  silence  ;  but  by 
and  by  said  Agelaiis,  son  of  Damastor  :  "  Friends,  in 
answering  what  is  fairly  said,  none  should  be  angry 
and  retort  with  spiteful  words.  Let  none  abuse  the 
stranger  nor  any  of  the  servants  in  great  Odysseus' 
hall.  But  to  Telemachus  and  his  mother  I  would  say 
one  friendly  word  ;  perhaps  it  may  find  favor  in  the 
mind  of  each.  So  long  as  your  hearts  hoped  wise 
Odysseus  would  return  to  his  own  home,  it  was  no 
harm  to  wait  and  hold  the  suitors  at  the  palace.  That 
was  the  better  way,  if  but  Odysseus  had  returned  and 
reached  his  home  once  more.  Now  it  is  plain  that 
he  will  never  come.  Go  then,  sit  down  beside  your 
mother  and  plainly  tell  her  this,  to  marry  the  man  who 
is  the  best  and  offers  most.  So  shall  you  keep  in 
peace  all  that  your  father  left,  to  eat  and  drink  your 
fill,  and  she  shall  guide  the  household  of  another." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus :  "  Nay, 
Agelaiis,  by  Zeus  I  swear  and  by  the  sufferings  of 
my  father,  who  far  away  from  Ithaca  is  dead  or  lost, 
it  is  not  I  delay  my  mother's  marriage  ;  indeed  I  urge 
her  to  marry  whom  she  will,  I  will  give  countless  gifts. 
But  I  hesitate  to  drive  her  forth,  against  her  will,  by 
a  compulsive  word.     God  let  that  never  be  ! ' 

So  spoke  Telemachus,  but  Pallas  Athene  woke 
uncontrollable  laughter  in  the  suitors.  She  turned 
their  wits  awry.  Now  they  would  laugh  as  if  with 
others'  faces,  and  blood-bedabbled  was  the  flesh  they 
ate.  Their  eyes  were  filled  with  tears,  their  heart 
felt  anguish ;  and  godlike  Theoclymenus  addressed 
them  thus  : 


326  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XX.  351-383. 

"  All  wretched  men,  what  woe  befalls  you  ?  Night 
shrouds  your  heads,  your  faces,  and  lower  still,  your 
knees.  Wild  cries  are  kindled ;  cheeks  are  wet  with 
tears  ;  walls  and  the  fair  mid-spaces  drip  with  blood. 
The  porch  is  full,  the  court  is  full,  of  shapes  that 
haste  to  Erebus,  down  into  darkness.  The  sun  is 
blotted  from  the  heavens ;  a  foul  fog  covers  all." 

He  spoke,  and  all  burst  into  merry  laughter ;  and 
thus  began  Eurymachus,  the  son  of  Polybus :  "  A 
crazy  stranger  this,  new  come  from  foreign  lands ! 
Quick  then,  young  men,  and  guide  him  out  of  doors, 
off  to  the  market,  since  he  finds  it  here  like  night !  ' 

Then  godlike  Theoclymenus  made  answer :  "  Eury- 
machus, I  do  not  ask  a  guide  ;  I  have  my  eyes  and 
ears,  and  my  two  feet,  and  in  my  breast  a  steadfast 
mind  of  no  mean  sort.  By  their  aid  I  go  forth,  for 
I  perceive  an  evil  approaching  you  which  none  shall 
shun  or  flee,  —  nay,  not  a  man  among  these  suitors 
who  in  the  house  of  great  Odysseus  work  wantonly 
abominations  to  mankind." 

So  saying,  forth  he  went  out  of  the  stately  palace 
and  found  Peiraeus,  who  received  him  kindly.  Then 
all  the  suitors,  glancing  at  one  another,  began  to  tease 
Telemachus  by  laughing  at  his  guests,  and  a  rude 
youth  would  say : 

"Telemachus,  no  man  is  more  unfortunate  in  guests 
than  you.  For  instance,  what  a  filthy  vagabond  is 
this  you  keep,  one  always  wanting  bread  and  wine, 
incapable  of  work  or  deeds  of  strength,  simply  a  cum- 
berer  of  the  ground !  And  now  this  other  fellow 
stands  up  and  plays  the  prophet.  But  if  you  would 
heed  me,  the  better  way  were  this  ;  to  toss  your  guests 
into  a  ship  of  many  oars  and  pack  them  off  to  Sicily, 
where  they  would  fetch  their  price." 


XX.  384-394.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  327 

So  said  the  suitors  ;  Telemachus  did  not  heed  their 
words.  Silent  he  watched  his  father,  waiting  ever  till 
he  should  lay  hands  on  the  shameless  suitors. 

Now  having  set  her  goodly  seat  just  opposite  the 
door,  the  daughter  of  Icarius,  heedful  Penelope,  at- 
tended to  the  talk  of  all  within  the  hall.  With 
laughter  they  prepared  their  dinner,  —  a  pleasant  meal, 
such  as  they  liked,  —  and  many  a  beast  was  slaugh- 
tered. But  how  could  feast  be  more  unwelcome  than 
the  supper  which  a  goddess  and  a  valiant  man  were 
soon  to  set  before  them  ?  For  from  the  first  they  had 
wrought  deeds  of  shame. 


XXI. 

THE   TRIAL    OF   THE   BOW. 

And  now  the  goddess,  clear-eyed  Athene,  put  in  the 
mind  of  Icarius.'  daughter,  heedful  Penelope,  to  offer 
to  the  suitors  in  the  hall  the  bow  and  the  gray  steel, 
as  means  of  sport  and  harbingers  of  death.  She 
mounted  the  long  stairway  of  her  house,  holding  a 
crooked  key  in  her  firm  hand,  —  a  goodly  key  of 
bronze,  having  an  ivory  handle,  —  and  hastened  with 
her  damsels  to  a  far-off  room  where  her  lord's  treasure 
lay,  bronze,  gold,  and  well-wrought  steel.  Here  also 
lay  his  curved  bow  and  the  quiver  for  his  arrows,  — 
and  many  grievous  shafts  were  in  it  still,  —  gifts  which 
a  friend  had  given  Odysseus  when  he  met  him  once  in 
Lacedaemon,  — Iphitus,  son  of  Eurytus,  a  man  like 
the  immortals.  At  Messene  the  two  met,  in  the  house 
of  wise  Orsilochus.  Odysseus  had  come  hither  to. 
claim  a  debt  which  the  whole  district  owed  him ;  for 
upon  ships  of  many  oars  Messenians  carried  off  from 
Ithaca  three  hundred  sheep  together  with  their  herds- 
men. In  the  long  quest  for  these,  Odysseus  took  the 
journey  when  he  was  but  a  youth  ;  for  his  father  and 
the  other  elders  sent  him  forth.  Iphitus,  on  the  other 
hand,  was  seeking  horses  ;  for  twelve  mares  had  been 
lost,  which  had  as  foals  twelve  hardy  mules.  These 
afterwards  became  the  death  and  doom  of  Iphitus 
when  he  met  the  stalwart  son  of  Zeus,  the  hero  Her- 
cules, who  well  knew  deeds  of  daring  ;  for  Hercules 


XXL  26-60.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  329 

slew  Ipliitus  in  his  own  house,  although  his  guest,  and 
recklessly  did  not  regard  the  anger  of  the  gods  nor  yet 
the  proffered  table,  but  slew  the  man  and  kept  at  his 
own  hall  the  strong-hoofed  mares.  It  was  when  seek- 
ing these  that  Iphitus  had  met  Odysseus  and  given 
the  bow  which  in  old  days  great  Eurytus  was  wont  to 
bear,  and  which  on  dying  in  his  lofty  hall  he  left  his 
son.  To  Iphitus,  Odysseus  gave  a  sharp-edged  sword 
and  a  stout  spear,  as  the  beginning  of  a  loving  friend- 
ship. They  never  sat,  however,  at  one  another's  table  ; 
ere  that  could  be,  the  son  of  Zeus  slew  godlike  Iphitus, 
the  son  of  Eurytus,  who  gave  the  bow.  Royal  Odys- 
seus when  going  off  to  war  in  the  black  ships  would 
never  take  this  bow.  It  always  stood  in  its  own  place 
at  home,  as  a  memorial  of  his  honored  friend.  In  his 
_own  land  he  bore  it. 

Now  when  the  royal  lady  reached  this  room  and 
"stood. on  the  oaken  threshold,  —  which  long  ago  the  car- 
penter had  smoothed  with  skill  and  leveled  to  the  line, 
fitting  the  posts  thereto  and  setting  the  shining  doors, 
—  then  quickly  from  its  ring  she  loosed  the  strap, 
thrust  in  the  key,  and  with  a  careful  aim  shot  back 
the  door-bolts.  As  a  bull  roars  when  feeding  in  the 
field,  so  roared  the  goodly  door  touched  by  the  key, 
and  open  flew  before  her.  She  stepped  to  a  raised 
dais  where  stood  some  chests  in  which  lay  fragrant 
garments.  Thence  reaching  up,  she  took  from  its  peg 
the  bow  in  the  glittering  case  which  held  it.  And 
now  she  sat  her  down  and  laid  the  case  upon  her  lap 
and  loudly  weeping  drew  her  lord's  bow  forth.  But 
when  she  had  had  her  fill  of  tears  and  sighs,  she  has- 
tened to  the  hall  to  meet  the  lordly  suitors,  bearing  in 
hand  the  curved  bow  and  the  quiver  for  the  arrows, 
and  many  grievous  shafts  were  in  it  still.    Beside  her, 


330  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XXI.  61-95. 

damsels  bore  a  box  in  which  lay  many  a  piece  of  steel 
and  bronze,  implements  of  her  lord's  for  games  like 
these.  And  when  the  royal  lady  reached  the  suitors, 
she  stood  beside  a  column  of  the  strong-built  roof, 
holding  before  her  face  her  delicate  wimple,  the  while 
a  faithful  damsel  stood  upon  either  hand.  And 
straightway  she  addressed  the  suitors,  speaking  thus  : 

"  Hearken,  you  haughty  suitors  who  beset  this  house, 
eating  and  drinking  ever,  now  my  husband  is  long 
gone  ;  no  word  of  excuse  can  you  suggest  except  your 
wish  to  marry  me  and  win  me  for  your  wife.  Well 
then,  my  suitors,  —  since  before  you  stands  your  prize, 
—  I  offer  you  the  mighty  bow  of  prince  Odysseus ; 
and  whoever  with  his  hands  shall  lightliest  bend  the 
bow  and  shoot  through  all  twelve  axes,  him  I  will  fol- 
low and  forsake  this  home,  this  bridal  home,  so  very 
beautiful  and  full  of  wealth,  a  place  I  think  I  ever 
shall  remember,  even  in  my  dreams." 

So  saying,  she  bade  Eumaeus,  the  noble  swine- 
herd, deliver  to  the  suitors  the  bow  and  the  gray 
steel.  With  tears  Eumaeus  took  the  arms  and  laid 
them  down  before  them.  Near  by,  the  neatherd  also 
wept  to  see  his  master's  bow.  But  Antinoiis  rebuked 
them,  and  spoke  to  them  and  said  : 

"  You  stupid  boors,  who  only  mind  the  passing 
minute,  wretched  pair,  what  do  you  mean  by  shedding 
tears,  troubling  this  lady's  heart,  when  already  her  heart 
is  prostrated  with  grief  at  losing  her  dear  husband  ? 
Sit  down  and  eat  in  silence,  or  else  go  forth  and  weep, 
but  leave  the  bow  behind,  a  dread  ordeal  for  the  suit- 
ors ;  for  I  am  sure  this  polished  bow  will  not  be  bent 
with  ease.  There  is  not  a  man  of  all  now  here  so 
powerful  as  Odysseus.  I  saw  him  once  myself  and 
well  recall  him,  though  I  was  then  a  child." 


XXI.  96-127.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  331 

He  spoke,  but  in  his  breast  his  heart  was  hoping  to 
draw  the  string  and  send  an  arrow  through  the  steel ; 
yet  he  was  to  be  the  first  to  taste  the  shaft  of  good 
Odysseus,  whom  he  now  wronged  though  seated  in  his 
hall,  while  to  like  outrage  he  encouraged  all  his  com- 
rades.    To  these  now  spoke  revered  Telemachus  : 

"  Ha  !  Zeus  the  son  of  Kronos  has  made  me  play 
the  fool !  My  mother,  —  and  wise  she  is,  —  says  she 
will  follow  some  strange  man  and  quit  this  house  ; 
and  I  but  laugh  and  in  my  silly  soul  am  glad.  Come 
then,  you  suitors,  since  before  you  stands  your  prize, 
a  lady  whose  like  cannot  be  found  throughout  Achaean 
land,  in  sacred  Pylos,  Argos,  or  Mycenae,  in  Ithaca 
itself,  or  the  dark  mainland,  as  you  yourselves  well 
know,  —  what  needs  my  mother  praise  ?  —  come  then, 
delay  not  with  excuse  nor  longer  hesitate  to  bend  the 
bow,  but  let  us  learn  what  is  to  be.  I  too  might  try 
the  bow.  And  if  I  stretch  it  and  send  an  arrow 
through  the  steel,  then  with  no  shame  to  me  my 
honored  mother  may  forsake  this  house  and  follow 
some  one  else,  leaving  me  here  behind ;  for  I  shall 
then  be  able  to  wield  my  father's  arms." 

He  spoke,  and  flung  his  red  cloak  from  his  shoul- 
ders, rising  full  height,  and  put  away  the  sharp  sword 
also  from  his  shoulder.  First  then  he  set  the  axes, 
marking  one  long  furrow  for  them  all,  aligned  by  cord. 
The  earth  on  the  two  sides  he  stamped  down  flat. 
Surprise  filled  all  beholders  to  see  how  properly  he 
set  them,  though  he  had  never  seen  the  game  before. 
Then  he  went  and  stood  upon  the  threshold  and  began 
to  try  the  bow.  Three  times  he  made  it  tremble  as 
he  sought  to  make  it  bend.  Three  times  he  slacked 
his  strain,  still  hoping  in  his  heart  to  draw  the  string 
and  send  an  arrow  through  the  steel.     And  now  he 


332  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XXL  128-158. 

might  have  drawn  it  by  force  of  a  fourth  tug,  had 
not  Odysseus  shook  his  head  and  stayed  the  eager 
boy.  So  to  the  suitors  once  more  spoke  revered  Te- 
lemachus : 

44  Fie !  Shall  I  ever  be  a  coward  and  a  weakling, 
or  am  I  still  but  young  and  cannot  trust  my  arm  to 
right  me  with  the  man  who  wrongs  me  first?  But 
come,  you  who  are  stronger  men  than  I,  come  try  the 
bow  and  end  the  contest." 

So  saying,  he  laid  by  the  bow  and  stood  it  on  the 
ground,  leaning  it  on  the  nrni-set  polished  door.  The 
swift  shaft,  too,  he  likewise  leaned  against  the  bow's 
fair  knob,  and  once  more  took  the  seat  from  which  he 
first  arose.  Then  said  to  them  Antinoiis,  Eupeithes' 
son: 

"  Rise  up  in  order  all,  from  left  to  right,  beginning 
where  the  cupbearer  begins  to  pour  the  wine." 

So  said  Antinoiis,  and  his  saying  pleased  them. 
Then  first  arose  Leiodes,  son  of  Oenops,  who  was 
their  soothsayer  and  had  his  place  beside  the  goodly 
mixer,  farthest  along  the  hall.  To  him  alone  their 
lawlessness  was  hateful ;  he  abhorred  the  suitor  crowd. 
He  it  was  now  who  first  took  up  the  bow  and  the  swift 
shaft ;  and  going  to  the  threshold,  he  stood  and  tried 
the  bow.  He  could  not  bend  it.  Tugging  the  string 
wearied  his  hands,  his  soft,  unhorny  hands  ;  and  to 
the  suitors  thus  he  spoke  : 

"  No,  friends,  I  cannot  bend  it.  Let  some  other 
take  the  bow.  Ah,  many  chiefs  this  bow  shall  rob 
of  life  and  breath !  Yet  better  far  to  die  than  live 
and  still  to  fail  in  that  for  which  we  constantly  are 
gathered,  waiting  expectantly  from  day  to  day !  Now 
each  man  hopes  and  purposes  at  heart  to  win  Pene- 
lope, Odysseus'  wife.     But  when  he  shall  have  tried 


XXI.  159-187.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  333 

the  bow  and  seen  his  failure,  then  to  some  other  fair- 
robed  woman  of  Aehaea  let  each  go,  and  offer  her  his 
suit  and  woo  her  with  his  gifts.  So  may  Penelope 
marry  the  man  who  gives  her  most  and  comes  with 
fate  to  favor !  " 

When  he  had  spoken,  he  laid  by  the  bow,  leaning 
it  on  the  firm-set  polished  door.  The  swift  shaft,  too, 
he  likewise  leaned  against  the  bow's  fair  knob,  and 
once  more  took  the  seat  from  which  he  first  arose. 
But  Antinoiis  rebuked  him,  and  spoke  to  him,  and 
said : 

"  Leiodes,  what  words  have  passed  the  barrier  of 
your  teeth  ?  Strange  words  and  harsh !  Vexatious 
words  to  hear  !  As  if  this  bow  must  rob  our  chiefs 
of  life  and  breath  because  you  cannot  bend  it !  Why, 
your  good  mother  did  not  bear  you  for  a  brandisher 
of  bows  and  arrows.  But  others  among  the  lordly 
suitors  will  bend  it  by  and  by." 

So  saying,  he  gave  an  order  to  Melanthius,  the  goat- 
herd :  "  Hasten,  Melantheus,  and  light  a  fire  in  the 
hall  and  set  a  long  bench  near,  with  fleeces  on  it ;  then 
brino-  me  the  lar°:e  cake  of  fat  which  lies  inside  the 
door,  that  after  we  have  warmed  the  bow  and  greased 
it  well,  we  young  men  try  the  bow  and  end  the  con- 
test." 

He  spoke,  and  straightway  Melanthius  kindled  a 
steady  fire,  and  set  a  bench  beside  it  with  a  fleece 
thereon,  and  brought  out  the  large  cake  of  fat  which 
lay  inside  the  door,  and  so  the  young  men  warmed  the 
bow  and  made  their  trial.  But  jTet  they  could  not  bend 
it ;  they  fell  far  short  of  power.  Antinoiis,  however, 
still  held  back,  and  prince  Enrymachus,  who  were 
the  suitors'  leaders  ;  for  they  in  manly  excellence  were 
quite  the  best  of  all. 


334  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XXI.  188-220. 

Meanwhile  out  of  the  house  at  the  same  moment 
came  two  men,  princely  Odysseus'  herdsmen  of  the 
oxen  and  the  swine ;  and  after  them  came  royal  Odys- 
seus also  from  the  house.  And  when  they  were  out- 
side the  gate,  beyond  the  yard,  speaking  in  gentle 
words  Odysseus  said  : 

"  Neatherd,  and  you  too,  swineherd,  may  I  tell  a 
certain  tale,  or  shall  I  hide  it  still  ?  My  heart  bids 
speak.  How  ready  would  you  be  to  aid  Odysseus  if 
he  should  come  from  somewhere,  thus,  on  a  sudden, 
and  a  god  should  bring  him  home  ?  Would  you  sup- 
port the  suitors  or  Odysseus  ?  Speak  freely,  as  your 
heart  and  spirit  bid  you  speak." 

Then  said  to  him  the  herdsman  of  the  cattle : 
"  O  father  Zeus,  grant  this  my  prayer  !  May  he  re- 
turn and  Heaven  be  his  guide  !  Then  shall  you  know 
what  might  is  mine  and  how  my  hands  obey." 

So  prayed  Eumaeus  too  to  all  the  gods,  that  wise 
Odysseus  might  return  to  his  own  home.  So  when  he 
knew  with  certainty  the  heart  of  each,  finding  his 
words  once  more  Odysseus  said  : 

"  Lo,  it  is  I,  through  many  grievous  toils  now  in 
the  twentieth  year  come  to  my  native  land !  And 
yet  I  know  that  of  my  servants  none  but  you  desires 
my  coming.  From  all  the  rest  I  have  not  heard 
one  prayer  that  I  return.  To  you  then  I  will  truly 
tell  what  shall  hereafter  be.  If  God  by  me  subdues 
the  lordly  suitors,  I  will  obtain  you  wives  and  give 
you  wealth  and  homes  established  near  my  own ; 
and  henceforth  in  my  eyes  you  shall  be  friends  and 
brethren  of  Telemachus.  Come  then  and  I  will  show 
you  too  a  very  trusty  sign,  —  that  you  may  know  me 
certainly  and  be  assured  in  heart,  —  the  scar  the  boar 
dealt  long  ago  with  his  white  tusk,  when  I  once  jour- 
neyed to  Parnassus  with  Autolycus'  sons." 


XXI.  221-250.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  335 

So  saying,  he  drew  aside  his  rags  from  the  great 
scar.  And  when  the  two  beheld  and  understood  it 
all,  their  tears  burst  forth ;  they  threw  their  arms 
round  wise  Odysseus  and  passionately  kissed  his  face 
and  neck.  So  likewise  did  Odysseus  kiss  their  heads 
and  hands.  And  daylight  had  gone  down  upon  their 
weeping  had  not  Odysseus  stayed  their  tears  and 
said: 

"  Have  done  with  grief  and  wailing,  or  some- 
body in  coming  from  the  hall  may  see,  and  tell  the 
tale  indoors.  Nay,  go  in  one  by  one,  not  all  together. 
I  will  go  first,  you  after.  And  let  this  be  agreed : 
the  rest  within,  the  lordly  suitors,  will  not  allow  me 
to  receive  the  bow  and  quiver.  But,  noble  Eumaeus, 
bring  the  bow  along  the  room  and  lay  it  in  my  hands. 
Then  tell  the  women  to  lock  the  hall's  close-fitting 
doors ;  and  if  from  their  inner  room  they  hear  a 
moaning  or  a  strife  within  our  walls,  let  no  one  ven- 
ture forth,  but  stay  in  silence  at  her  work.  And, 
noble  Philoetius,  in  your  care  I  put  the  court-yard 
gates.     Bolt  with  the  bar  and  quickly  lash  the  fasten- 

ing." 

So  saying,  Odysseus  made  his  way  into  the  stately 
house,  and  went  and  took  the  seat  from  which  he  first 
arose.  And  soon  the  serving-men  of  princely  Odys- 
seus entered  too. 

Now  Eurymachus  held  the  bow  and  turned  it  up 
and  down,  trying  to  heat  it  at  the  glowing  fire.  Bat 
still,  with  all  his  pains,  he  could  not  bend  it ;  his  proud 
soul  groaned  aloud.  Then  bitterly  he  spoke  ;  these 
were  the  words  he  said  : 

"  Ah !  here  is  woe  for  me  and  woe  for  all !  Not 
that  I  so  much  mourn  missing  the  marriage,  though 
vexed  I  am  at  that.     Still,  there  are  enough  more 


336  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XXI.  251-284. 

women  of  Acliaea,  both  here  in  sea-girt  Ithaca  and  in 
the  other  cities.  But  if  in  strength  we  fall  so  short 
of  princely  Odysseus  that  we  cannot  bend  his  bow  — 
oh,  the  disgrace  for  future  times  to  know !  " 

Then  said  Antinous,  Eupeithes'  son :  "  Not  so, 
Eurymachus,  and  you  yourself  know  better.  To-day 
throughout  the  land  is  the  archer -god's  high  feast. 
Who  then  could  bend  a  bow  ?  Nay,  quietly  lay  it  by  ; 
and  for  the  axes,  what  if  we  leave  them  standing? 
Nobody,  I  am  sure,  will  carry  one  away  and  trespass 
on  the  house  of  Laertes'  son,  Odysseus.  Come  then, 
and  let  the  wine-pourer  give  pious  portions  to  our 
cups,  that  after  a  libation  we  may  lay  aside  curved 
bows.  To-morrow  morning  tell  Melanthius,  the  goat- 
herd, to  drive  us  here  the  choicest  goats  of  all  his 
flock ;  and  we  will  set  the  thighs  before  the  archer- 
god,  Apollo,  then  try  the  bow  and  end  the  contest." 

So  said  Antinous,  and  his  saying  pleased  them. 
Pages  poured  water  on  their  hands ;  young  men 
brimmed  bowls  with  drink  and  served  to  all,  with  a 
first  pious  portion  for  the  cups.  And  after  they  had 
poured  and  drunk  as  their  hearts  would,  then  in  his 
subtlety  said  wise  Odysseus  : 

"  Hearken,  you  suitors  of  the  illustrious  queen,  and 
let  me  tell  you  what  the  heart  within  me  bids.  I  beg 
a  special  favor  of  Eurymachus,  and  great  Antinous 
too ;  for  his  advice  was  wise,  that  you  now  drop  the 
bow  and  leave  the  matter  with  the  gods,  and  in  the 
morning  God  shall  grant  the  power  to  whom  he  may. 
But  give  me  now  the  polished  bow,  and  let  me  in  your 
presence  prove  my  skill  and  power  and  see  if  I  have 
yet  such  vigor  left  as  once  there  was  within  my  sup- 
ple limbs,  or  whether  wanderings  and  neglect  have 
ruined  all." 


XXI.  285-317.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  337 

At  these  his  words  all  were  exceeding  wroth,  fear- 
ing that  he  might  bend  the  polished  bow.  But  Anti- 
nous  rebuked  him,  and  spoke  to  him  and  said  :  "  You 
scurvy  stranger,  with  not  a  whit  of  sense,  are  you  not 
satisfied  to  eat  in  peace  with  us,  your  betters,  unstinted 
in  your  food  and  hearing  all  we  say  ?  Nobody  else, 
stranoer  or  beg-o-ar,  hears  our  talk.  'T  is  wine  that 
goads  you,  honeyed  wine,  a  thing  that  has  brought 
others  trouble,  when  taken  greedily  and  drunk  without 
due  measure.  Wine  crazed  the  Centaur,  famed  Eu- 
rytion,  at  the  house  of  bold  Peirithoiis,  on  his  visit  to 
the  Lapithae.  And  when  his  wits  were  crazed  with 
wine,  he  madly  wrought  foul  outrage  on  the  household 
of  Peirithoiis.  So  indignation  seized  the  heroes. 
Through  the  porch  and  out  of  doors  they  rushed, 
dragging  Eurytion  forth,  shorn  by  the  pitiless  sword 
of  ears  and  nose.  Crazed  in  his  wits,  he  went  his  way, 
bearing  in  his  bewildered  heart  the  burden  of  his 
guilt.  And  hence  arose  a  feud  between  the  Centaurs 
and  mankind ;  but  the  beginning  of  the  woe  he  him- 
self caused  by  wine.  Even  so  I  prophesy  great  harm 
to  you,  if  you  shall  bend  the  bow.  No  kindness  will 
you  meet  from  any  in  our  land,  but  we  will  send  you 
by  black  ship  straight  to  king  Echetus,  the  bane  of 
all  mankind,  out  of  whose  hands  you  never  shall  come 
clear.  Be  quiet,  then,  and  take  your  drink !  Do  not 
presume  to  vie  with  younger  men ! ' 

Then  said  to  him  heedful  Penelope  :  "  Antinoiis,  it 
is  neither  honorable  nor  fitting  to  worry  strangers 
who  may  reach  this  palace  of  Telemachus.  Do  you 
suppose  the  stranger,  if  he  bends  the  great  bow  of 
Odysseus,  confident  in  his  skill  and  strength  of  arm, 
will  lead  me  home  and  take  me  for  his  wife  ?  He  in 
his  inmost  soul  imagines  no  such  thing.     Let  none  of 


338  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XXI.  318-353. 


3rou  sit  at  the  table  disturbed  by  such  a  thought ;  for 
that  could  never,  never,  be !  " 

Then  answered  her  Eurymachus,  the  son  of  Poly- 
bus  :  "  Daughter  of  Icarius,  heedful  Penelope,  we  do 
not  think  the  man  will  marry  you.  Of  course  that 
could  not  be.  And  yet  we  dread  the  talk  of  men  and 
women,  and  fear  that  one  of  the  baser  sort  of  the 
Achaeans  say :  '  Men  far  inferior  sue  for  a  good  man's 
wife,  and  cannot  bend  his  polished  bow.  But  some- 
body else,  —  a  wandering  beggar,  —  came,  and  easily 
bent  the  bow  and  sent  an  arrow  through  the  steel.' 
This  they  will  say,  to  us  a  shame  indeed." 

Then  said  to  him  heedful  Penelope  ;  "  Eurymachus, 
men  cannot  be  in  honor  in  the  land  and  rudely  rob 
the  household  of  their  prince.  Why  then  count  this 
a  shame?  The  stranger  is  right  tall,  and  well-knit 
too,  and  calls  himself  the  son  of  a  good  father,,  Give 
him  the  polished  bow,  and  let  us  see.  For  this  I 
tell  you,  and  it  shall  be  done  :  if  he  shall  bend  it  and 
Apollo  grants  his  prayer,  I  will  clothe  him  in  a  coat 
and  tunic,  goodly  garments,  give  him  a  pointed  spear 
to  keep  off  dogs  and  men,  a  two-edged  sword,  and 
sandals  for  his  feet,  and  I  will  send  him  where  his 
heart  and  soul  may  bid  him  go." 

Then  answered  her  discreet  Telemachus :  "  My 
mother,  no  Achaean  has  better  right  than  I  to  give  or 
to  refuse  the  bow  to  any  as  I  will.  And  out  of  all 
who  rule  in  rocky  Ithaca,  or  in  the  islands  off  to- 
ward grazing  Elis,  none  may  oppose  my  will,  even  if  I 
washed  to  put  the  bows  into  the  stranger's  hands  and 
let  him  take  them  once  for  all  away.  Then  seek  your 
chamber  and  attend  to  matters  of  your  own,  —  the 
loom,  the  distaff,  —  and  bid  the  women  ply  their 
tasks.  Bows  are  for  men,  for  all,  especially  for  me  ; 
for  power  within  this  house  rests  here." 


XXL  354-385.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  339 

Amazed,  she  turned  to  her  own  room  again,  for  the 
wise  saying  of  her  son  she  laid  to  heart.  And  com- 
ing to  the  upper  chamber  with  her  maids,  she  there 
bewailed  Odysseus,  her  dear  husband,  till  on  her  lids 
clear-eyed  Athene  caused  a  sweet  sleep  to  fall. 

Meanwhile  the  noble  swineherd,  taking  the  curved 
bow,  was  bearing  it  away.  But  the  suitors  all  broke 
into  uproar  in  the  hall,  and  a  rude  youth  would  say : 
"  Where  are  you  carrying  the  curved  bow,  you  miser- 
able swineherd  ?  Crazy  fool !  Soon  out  among  the 
swine,  away  from  men,  swift  dogs  shall  eat  you,  — ■ 
dogs  you  yourself  have  bred  —  will  but  Apollo  and 
the  other  deathless  gods  be  gracious  !  " 

At  these  their  words  the  bearer  of  the  bow  laid  it 
down  where  he  stood,  frightened  because  the  crowd 
within  the  hall  cried  out  upon  him.  But  from  the 
other  side  Telemachus  called  threateningly  aloud : 
"  Nay,  father  !  Carry  on  the  bow  !  You  cannot  well 
heed  all.  Take  care,  or  I,  a  nimbler  man  than  you, 
will  drive  you  to  the  fields  with  pelting  stones.  Supe- 
rior in  strength  I  am  to  you.  Ah,  would  I  were  as 
much  beyond  the  others  in  the  house,  beyond  these 
suitors,  in  my  skill  and  strength  of  arm  !  Then 
would  I  soon  send  somebody  away  in  sorrow  from  my 
house  ;  for  men  work  evil  here." 

He  spoke,  and  all  burst  into  merry  laughter  and 
laid  aside  their  bitter  anger  with  Telemachus.  And 
so  the  swineherd,  bearing  the  bow  along  the  hall, 
drew  near  to  wise  Odysseus  and  put  it  in  his  hands ; 
then  calling  aside  nurse  Eurycleia,  thus  he  said  : 

"  Telemachus  bids  you,  heedful  Eurycleia,  to  lock 
the  hall's  close-fitting  doors  ;  and  if  a  woman  from 
the  inner  room  hears  moaning  or  a  strife  within  our 
walls,  let  her  not  venture  forth,  but  stay  in  silence 
at  her  work." 


340  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XXI.  386-417. 

Such  were  his  words ;  un winged,  they  rested  with 
her.  She  locked  the  doors  of  the  stately  hall.  Then 
silently  from  the  house  Philoetius  stole  forth  and 
straightway  barred  the  gates  of  the  fenced  court. 
Beneath  the  portico  there  lay  a  curved  ship's  cable, 
made  of  byblus  plant.  With  this  he  lashed  the  gates, 
then  passed  indoors  himself,  and  went  and  took  the 
seat  from  which  he  first  arose,  eying  Odysseus.  Now 
Odysseus  already  held  the  bow  and  turned  it  round 
and  round,  trying  it  here  and  there  to  see  if  worms  had 
gnawed  the  horn  while  its  lord  was  far  away.  And 
glancing  at  his  neighbor  one  would  say : 

"  A  sort  of  fancier  and  a  trickster  with  the  bow  this 
fellow  is.  No  doubt  at  home  he  has  himself  a  bow 
like  that,  or  means  to  make  one  like  it.  See  how 
he  turns  it  in  his  hands  this  way  and  that,  ready  for 
mischief,  —  rascal !  " 

Then  would  another  rude  youth  answer  thus  :  "  Oh 
may  he  always  meet  with  luck  as  good  as  when  he  is 
unable  now  to  bend  the  bow !  " 

So  talked  the  suitors.  Meantime  wise  Odysseus, 
when  he  had  handled  the  great  bow  and  scanned  it 
closely,  —  even  as  one  well-skilled  to  play  the  lyre  and 
sing  stretches  with  ease  round  its  new  peg  a  string, 
securing  at  each  end  the  -  twisted  sheep-gut ;  so  with- 
out effort  did  Odysseus  string  the  mighty  bow.  Hold- 
ing it  now  with  his  right  hand,  he  tried  its  cord ;  and 
clear  to  the  touch  it  sang,  voiced  like  the  swallow. 
Great  consternation  came  upon  the  suitors.  All  faces 
then  changed  color.  Zeus  thundered  loud  for  signal. 
And  glad  was  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  to  think  the 
son  of  crafty  Kronos  sent  an  omen.  He  picked  up  a 
swift  shaft  which  lay  beside  him  on  the  table,  drawn. 
Within  the  hollow  quiver  still  remained  the  rest,  which 


XXI.  418-434.]         THE   ODYSSEY.  341 

the  Achaeans  soon  should  prove.  Then  laying  the 
arrow  on  the  arch,  he'  drew  the  string  and  arrow 
notches,  and  forth  from  the  bench  on  which  he  sat 
let  fly  the  shaft,  with  careful  aim,  and  did  not  miss 
an  axe's  ring  from  first  to  last,  but  clean  through  all 
sped  on  the  bronze-tipped  arrow ;  and  to  Telemachus 
he  said : 

"  Telemachus,  the  guest  now  sitting  in  your  hall 
brings  you  no  shame.  I  did  not  miss  my  mark,  nor 
in  the  bending  of  the  bow  make  a  long  labor.  My 
strength  is  sound  as  ever,  not  what  the  mocking  suit- 
ors here  despised.  But  it  is  time  for  the  Achaeans 
to  make  supper  ready,  while  it  is  daylight  still ;  and 
then  for  us  in  other  ways  to  make  them  sport,  — 
with  dance  and  lyre  ;  for  these  attend  a  feast." 

He  spoke  and  frowned  the  sign.  His  sharp  sword 
then  Telemachus  girt  on,  the  son  of  princely  Odys- 
seus ;  clasped  his  right  hand  around  his  spear,  and 
close  beside  his  father's  seat  he  took  his  stand,  armed 
with  the  gleaming  bronze. 


XXII. 

THE   SLAUGHTER   OF   THE    SUITORS. 

Then  wise  Odysseus  threw  off  his  rags  and  sprang 
to  the  broad  threshold,  bow  in  hand  and  quiver  full 
of  arrows.  Out  he  poured  the  swift  shafts  at  his  feet, 
and  thus  addressed  the  suitors : 

"  So  the  dread  ordeal  ends !  Now  to  another  mark 
I  turn,  to  hit  what  no  man  ever  hit  before,  will  but 
Apollo  grant  my  prayer." 

He  spoke,  and  aimed  a  pointed  arrow  at  Antinoiis. 
The  man  was  in  the  act  to  raise  his  goodly  goblet,  — 
gold  it  was  and  double-eared,  —  and  even  now  guided  it 
in  his  hands  to  drink  the  wine.  Death  gave  his  heart 
no  care.  For  who  could  think  that  in  this  company 
of  feasters  one  of  the  crowd,  however  strong,  could 
bring  upon  him  cruel  death  and  dismal  doom  ?  But 
Odysseus  aimed  an  arrow  and  hit  him  in  the  throat ; 
right  through  his  tender  neck  the  sharp  point  passed. 
He  sank  down  sidewise ;  from  his  hand  the  goblet  fell 
when  he  was  hit,  and  straightway  from  his  nose  ran  a 
thick  stream  of  human  blood.  Eoughly  he  pushed 
his  table  back,  kicking  it  with  his  foot,  and  scattered 
off  the  food  upon  the  floor.  The  bread  and  roasted 
meat  were  thrown  away.  Into  a  tumult  broke  the 
suitors  round  about  the  hal1  when  they  saw  the  fallen 
man.  They  sprang  from  their  seats  and,  hurrying 
through  the  hall,  peered  at  the  massive  walls  on  every 
side.      But  nowhere  was  there  shield   or  ponderous 


XXII.  26-55.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  343 

spear  to  seize.  Then  they  assailed  Odysseus  with  in- 
dignant words : 

"  Stranger,  to  your  sorrow  you  turn  your  bow  on 
men  !  You  never  shall  take  part  in  games  again. 
Swift  death  awaits  you  ;  for  you  have  killed  the  leader 
of  the  noble  youths  of  Ithaca.  To  pay  for  this,  vul- 
tures shall  eat  you  here  !  " 

So  each  one  spoke  ;  they  thought  he  had  not  meant 
to  kill  the  man.  They  foolishly  did  not  see  that  for 
them  one  and  all  destruction's  cords  were  knotted. 
But  looking  sternly  on  them  wise  Odysseus  said  : 

44  Dogs  !  You  have  been  saying  all  the  time  I  never 
should  return  out  of  the  land  of  Troy ;  and  there- 
fore you  destroyed  my  home,  outraged  my  women- 
servants,  and,  —  I  alive,  —  covertly  wooed  my  wife, 
fearing  no  gods  that  hold  the  open  sky,  nor  that  the 
indignation  of  mankind  would  fall  on  you  hereafter. 
Now  for  you  one  and  all  destruction's  cords  are 
knotted  !  " 

As  he  spoke  thus,  pale  fear  took  hold  on  all.  Each 
peered  about  to  flee  from  instant  death.  Only  Eury- 
machus  made  answer,  saying  : 

"  If  you  indeed  be  Ithacan  Odysseus,  now  returned, 
justly  have  you  described  what  the  Achaeans  have 
been  doing,  — full  many  crimes  here  at  the  hall  and 
many  in  the  field.  But  there  at .  last  lies  he  who  was 
the  cause  of  all,  Antinous ;  fBr*^  it  was  he  who  set  us 
on  these  deeds,  not  so  much  needing  and  desiring 
marriage,  but  with  this  other  purpose,  —  which  the 
son  of  Kronos  never  granted,  —  that  in  the  settled 
land  of  Ithaca  he  might  himself  be  king,  when  he 
should  treacherously  have  slain  your  son.  Now  he  is 
justly  slain.  But  spare  your  people,  and  we  here- 
after, making  you  public  recompense  for  all  we  drank 


344  the  Odyssey.         [xxil  56-88. 

and  ate  here  at  the  hall,  will  pay  a  fine  of  twenty 
oxen  each  and  give  yon  bronze  and  gold  enough  to 
warm  your  heart.  Till  this  is  done,  we  cannot  blame 
your  wrath." 

But  looking  sternly  on  him,  wise  Odysseus  said : 
"  Eurymachus,  if  you  would  give  me  all  your  father's 
goods,  and  all  your  own,  and  all  that  you  might  gather 
elsewhere,  I  would  not  stay  my  hands  from  slaying 
until  the  suitors  paid  the  price  of  all  their  lawless 
deeds.  It  lies  before  you  then  to  fight  or  flee,  if  any 
man  will  save  himself  from  death  and  doom.  But 
some  here  will  not  flee,  I  think,  from  instant  death." 

As  he  spoke  thus,  their  knees  grew  feeble  and  their 
very  souls  ;  but  Eurymachus  called  out  a  second  time : 
"  Come,  friends,  the  man  will  not  hold  back  his  ruth- 
less hands ;  but  having  got  possession  of  a  polished 
bow  and  quiver,  he  will  shoot  from  the  smooth  thresh- 
old until  he  kills  us  all.  Let  us  then  turn  to  fighting. 
Draw  swords,  and  hold  the  tables  up  against  his 
deadly  arrows  !  Have  at  him  all  together  !  Perhaps 
we  may  dislodge  him  from  the  threshold  and  the  door, 
then  reach  the  town  and  quickly  raise  the  alarm.  So 
would  the  fellow  soon  have  shot  his  last." 

So  saying,  he  drew  his  sharp  two-edged  bronze 
sword  and  sprang  upon  Odysseus  with  a  fearful  cry. 
But  on  the  instant  royal  Odysseus  shot  an  arrow  and 
hit  him  in  the  breast  beside  the  nipple,  fixing  the 
swift  bolt  in  his  liver.  Out  of  his  hand  his  sword 
dropped  on  the  ground,  and  he  himself,  sprawling 
across  the  table,  bent  and  fell,  spilling  the  food  and 
double  cup  upon  the  floor.  With  his  brow  he  beat 
the  pavement  in  his  agony  of  heart,  and  with  his 
kicking  shook  the  chair.  Upon  his  eyes  gathered  the 
mists  of  death. 


XXII.  89-117.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  345 

But  Aniphinomus  assaulted  glorious  Odysseus,  aud 
dashing  headlong  forward  drew  his  sharp  sword,  hop- 
ing to  make  Odysseus  yield  the  door.  But  Telema- 
chus  was  quick  and  struck  him  with  his  brazen  spear 
upon  the  back,  between  the  shoulders,  and  drove  the 
spear-point  through  his  chest.  He  fell  with  a  thud  and 
struck  the  ground  flat  with  his  forehead.  Telemachus 
sprang  back  and  left  the  long  spear  sticking  in  Ani- 
phinomus ;  for  he  feared  if  he  should  draw  the  long 
spear  out,  an  Achaean  might  attack  him,  rushing  on 
him  with  his  sword,  and  as  he  stooped  might  stab 
him.  So  off  he  ran  and  hastily  went  back  to  his  dear 
father ;  and  standing  close  beside  him,  he  said  in 
winged  words  : 

"Now,  father,  I  will  fetch  a  shield  and  pair  of 
spears,  and  a  brazen  helmet  also,  fitted  to  your  brow. 
And  I  will  go  and  arm  myself,  and  give  some  armor 
to  the  swineherd  and  to  the  neatherd  too  ;  for  to  be 
armed  is  better." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said  :  "  Run  ! 
Bring  the  arms  while  I  have  arrows  to  defend  me,  or 
they  will  drive  me  from  the  door  when  I  am  left 
alone." 

He  spoke,  and  Telemachus  heeded  his  dear  father, 
and  hastened  to  the  chamber  where  the  glittering 
armor  lav.  Out  of  the  store  he  chose  four  shields, 
eight  spears,  and  four  bronze  helmets  having  horse- 
hair plumes.  These  he  bore  off  and  hastily  went  back 
to  his  dear  father.  Telemachus  first  girt  his  body 
with  the  bronze,  then  the  two  servants  likewise  girt 
themselves  in  goodly  armor,  and  so  all  took  their 
stand  by  Odysseus,  keen  and  crafty. 

He,  just  as  long  as  he  had  arrows  to  defend  him, 
shot  down  a  suitor  in  the  hall  with  every  aim,  and 


346  THE   ODYSSEY.        [XXII.  118-147. 

side  by  skle  they  fell.  Then  when  his  arrows  failed 
the  princely  bowman,  he  leaned  the  bow  against  the 
door-post  of  the  stately  room,  letting  it  stand  beside 
the  bright  face-wall,  and  he  too  slung  a  fourfold  shield 
about  his  shoulders,  put  on  his  sturdy  head  a  shapely 
helmet,  horsehair-plumed,  —  grimly  the  crest  above  it 
nodded,  —  and  took  in  hand  two  ponderous  spears 
pointed  with  bronze. 

Now  in  the  solid  wall  there  was  a  postern-door ;  and 
level  with  the  upper  threshold  of  the  stately  hall,  an 
opening  to  a  passage,  closed  with  jointed  boards. 
Odysseus  ordered  the  noble  swineherd  to  guard  this 
postern-door  and  in  its  neighborhood  to  take  his 
stand,  since  this  was  the  only  exit.  Bat  to  the  suitors 
said  Agelaiis,  speaking  his  words  to  all : 

"  Friends,  could  not  one  of  you  climb  by  the 
postern-door  and  tell  our  people,  and  quickly  raise 
the  alarm?  So  would  the  fellow  soon  have  shot  his 
last." 

Then  said  to  him  Melanthius  the  goatherd :  "  No, 
heaven-descended  Agelaiis,  that  may  in  no  wise  be ;  for 
the  good  court-yard  door  is  terribly  near  at  hand,  and 
the  mouth  of  the  passage-way  is  narrow.  One  person 
there,  if  resolute,  could  bar  the  way  for  all.  Yet  I 
will  fetch  you  from  the  chamber  arms  to  wear ;  for 
there,  I  think,  and  nowhere  else,  Odysseus  stored  the 
armor,  —  he  and  his  gallant  son." 

So  having  said,  Melanthius,  the  goatherd,  climbed 
to  the  chambers  of  Odysseus  through  the  vent-holes  of 
the  hall.  Out  of  the  store  he  chose  twelve  shields,  as 
many  spears,  and  just  as  many  brazen  helmets  having 
horsehair  plumes ;  then  turning  back,  he  brought 
them  very  quickly  and  gave  them  to  the  suitors.  And 
now  did  Odysseus'  knees  grow  feeble  and  his  very 


XXII.  148-181.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  347 

soul,  when  he  saw  them  donning  arms  ancV  waving  in 
their  hands  long  spears.  Large  seemed  his  task ; 
and  straightway  to  Telemaclms  he  spoke  these  winged 
words : 

"  Surely,  Telemachus,  a  woman  of  the  house  aids 
the  hard  fight  against  us ;  or  else  it  is  Melantheus." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  Father, 
the  fault  is  mine  ;  no  other  is  to  blame  ;  for  I  it  was 
who  opened  the  chamber's  tight-shut  door  and  left  it 
open.  Their  watchman  was  too  good.  But,  noble 
Eumaeus,  go  and  close  the  chamber-door,  and  see  if 
any  woman  has  a  hand  in  this,  or  if,  —  as  I  suspect,  — ■ 
it  is  the  son  of  Dolius,  Melantheus."  -» 

So  they  conversed  together.  And  now  Melanthius, 
the  goatherd,  went  to  the  room  again  to  fetch  more 
goodly  armor.  The  noble  swineherd  spied  him,  and 
quickly  to  Odysseus,  standing  near,  he  said  : 

"  High-born  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus,  there 
is  the  knave  whom  we  suspected,  just  going  to  the 
chamber.  Speak  plainly ;  shall  I  kill  him  if  I  prove 
the  better  man,  or  shall  I  bring  him  here  to  pay  for 
all  the  crimes  he  plotted  in  your  house  ? ' 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said  :  "  Here 
in  the  hall  Telemachus  and  I  will  hold  the  lordly  suit- 
ors, rage  they  as  they  may.  You  two  tie  the  man's 
feet  and  hands  and  drag  him  within  the  chamber ; 
there  fasten  boards  upon  his  back,  and  lashing  a 
twisted  rope  around  him  hoist  him  aloft,  up  the  tall 
pillar,  and  bring  him  to  the  beams,  that  he  may  keep 
alive  there  long  and  suffer  grievous  torment." 

So  he  spoke,  and  willingly  they  heeded  and  obeyed-. 
They  hastened  to  the  chamber,  unseen  of  him  within. 
He  was  en^asfed  in  searching  after  armor  in  a  corner 
of  the  room,  while  the   pair  stood   beside  the  door- 


348  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XXII.  182-212. 

posts,  one  on  either  hand,  and  waited.  Soon  as  Melan- 
thius  the  goatherd  crossed  the  threshold,  in  one  hand 
bearing  a  goodly  helmet  and  in  the  other  a  broad 
old  shield  beflecked  with  mould,  —  the  shield  of  lord 
Laertes,  which  he  carried  in  his  youth,  now  laid  away, 
its  strap-seams  parted,  —  then  on  him  sprang  the  two 
and  dragged  him  by  the  hair  within  the  door,  threw 
him  all  horror-stricken  to  the  ground,  bound  hands 
and  feet  together  with  a  galling  cord,  which  tight 
and  fast  they  tied,  as  they  were  ordered  by  Laertes' 
son,  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  ;  then  they  lashed  a 
twisted  rope  around  and  hoisted  him  aloft,  up  the  tall 
pillar,  and  brought  him  to  the  beams  ;  and  mocking 
him  said  you,  swineherd  Eumaeus  : 

"  Now  then,  Melanthius,  you  shall  watch  the  whole 
night  long,  stretched  out  on  such  a  comfortable  bed 
as  suits  you  well.  The  early  dawn  out  of  the  Ocean- 
stream  shall  not  in  golden  splendor  slip  unheeded  by, 
when  you  should  drive  goats  for  the  suitors  at  the  hall 
to  make  their  meal," 

Thus  was  he  left  there,  fast  in  deadly  bonds.  The 
pair  put  on  their  armor,  closed  the  shining  door  and 
went  to  join  Odysseus,  keen  and  crafty.  Here  they 
stood,  breathing  fury,  four  of  them  on  the  threshold, 
although  within  the  hall  were  many  men  of  might. 
But  near  them  came  Athene,  the  daughter  of  Zeus, 
likened  to  Mentor  in  her  form  and  voice.  To  see  her 
made  Odysseus  glad,  and  thus  he  spoke  : 

"  Mentor,  save  us  from  ruin  !  Remember  the  good 
comrade  who  often  aided  you.  You  are  of  my  own 
years." 

He  said  this,  though  he  understood  it  was  Athene, 
the  summoner  of  hosts.  But  the  suitors  shouted  from 
the  other  side,  down  in  the  hall ;  and  foremost  in 
abuse  was  Agelaiis,  son  of  Damastor  : 


XXII.  213-245.]  THE    ODYSSEY.  349 


"i> 


Mentor,  do  not  let  Odysseus  lure  you  by  his  words 
to  fight  the  suitors  and  to  lend  him  aid ;  for  I  am 
sure  even  then  we  still  shall  work  our  will.  And 
after  we  have  slain  these  men,  father  and  son,  you  too 
shall  die  beside  them  for  deeds  you  thought  to  do 
within  the  hall.  Here  with  your  head  you  shall  make 
due  amends.  And  when  with  the  sword  we  have  cut 
short  your  power,  whatever  goods  you  have,  within 
doors  and  without,  we  will  confound  with  the  posses- 
sions of  Odysseus.  We  will  not  let  your  sons  and 
daughters  live  at  home,  nor  let  your  true  wife  linger 
in  the  town  of  Ithaca." 

As  he  spoke  thus,  Athene  grew  more  wroth  in  spirit 
and  chid  Odysseus  with  these  angry  words  :  "  Odys- 
seus, you  have  no  longer  such  firm  power  and  spirit 
as  when  for  the  sake  of  white-armed  high-born  Helen 
you  fought  the  Trojans  nine  years  long  unflinchingly, 
and  vanquished  many  men  in  mortal  combat,  and  by 
your  wisdom  Priam's  wide-wayed  city  fell.  Why, 
now  returned  to  home  and  wealth  and  here  confronted 
with  the  suitors,  do  you  shrink  from  being  brave? 
Nay,  nay,  good  friend,  stand  by  my  side,  watch  what 
I  do,  and  see  how,  in  the  presence  of  the  foe,  Mentor, 
the  son  of  Alcimus,  repays  a  kindness." 

She  spoke,  but  gave  him  not  quite  yet  the  victory 
in  full.  Still  she  made  trial  of  the  strength  and  spirit 
both  of  Odysseus  and  his  valiant  son.  Up  to  the 
roof -beam  of  the  smoky  hall  she  darted  like  a  swallow, 
resting  there. 

Now  the  suitors  were  led  by  Agelaiis,  son  of  Da- 
mastor,  by  Eurynomus,  Amphimedon,  and  Demopto- 
lemus,  by  Peisander,  son  of  Polyctor,  and  wise  Poly- 
bus  ;  for  these  in  manly  excellence  were  quite  the  best 
of  all  who  still  were  living,  fighting  for  their  lives. 


350  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XXII.  246-276. 

The  rest  the  bow  and  storm  of  arrows  had  laid  low. 
So  to  these  men  said  Agelaiis,  speaking  his  words  to 

all: 

"  Now,  friends,  at  last  the  man  shall  hold  his  ruth- 
less hands  ;  for  Mentor  has  departed  after  uttering 
idle  boasts,  and  the  men  at  the  front  door  are  left 
alone.  So  hurl  your  long  spears,  but  not  all  together  ! 
Now  then,  six  let  fly  first ;  and  see  if  Zeus  allows 
Odysseus  to  be  hit  and  us  to  win  an  honor.  No 
trouble  about  the  rest  when  he  is  down  !  " 

He  said,  and  all  to  whom  he  spoke  let  fly  their 
spears  with  power.  Athene  made  all  vain.  One 
struck  the  doorpost  of  the  stately  hall ;  one  the  tight- 
fitting  door ;  another's  ashen  shaft,  heavy  with  bronze, 
crashed  on  the  wall.  And  when  the  men  were  safe 
from  the  suitors'  spears,  then  thus  began  long-tried 
royal  Odysseus  : 

"  Friends,  let  me  give  the  word  at  last  to  our  side 
too.  Let  fly  your  spears  into  the  crowd  of  suitors, 
men  who  seek  to  slay  and  strip  us,  adding  this  to 
former  wrongs !  " 

He  spoke,  and  all  with  careful  aim  let  fly  their 
pointed  spears.  Odysseus  struck  down  Demoptole- 
mus  ;  Telemachus,  Euryades  ;  the  swineherd,  Elatus  ; 
and  the  herdsman  of  the  cattle,  Peisander.  All  these 
together  bit  the  dust  of  the  broad  floor,  the  other  suit- 
ors falling  back  from  hall  to  deep  recess.  Odysseus' 
men  sprang  forward  and  from  the  bodies  of  the  dead 
pulled  out  the  spears. 

And  now  the  suitors  again  let  fly  their  pointed 
spears  with  power.  Athene  made  them  for  the  most 
part  vain.  One  struck  the  doorpost  of  the  stately 
hall ;  one  the  tight-fitting  door ;  another's  ashen  shaft, 
heavy  with  bronze,  crashed  on  the  wall.     But  Ampin- 


XXII.  277-305.]         THE    ODYSSEY.  351 

medon  wounded  Teleniaclms  on  the  wrist  of  the  right 
hand,  though  slightly  ;  the  metal  tore  the  outer  skin. 
And  Ctesippus  with  his  long  spear  grazed  Eumaeus 
on  the  shoulder  which  showed  above  his  shield ;  the 
spear  flew  past  and  fell  upon  the  ground. 

Once  more  the  men  beside  Odysseus,  keen  and 
crafty,  let  fly  their  sharp  spears  on  the  crowd  of  suit- 
ors. And  now  by  Odysseus,  the  spoiler  of  cities, 
Eurydamas  was  hit ;  by  Telemachus,  Amphimedon  ; 
by  the  swineherd,  Polybus  ;  and  afterwards  the  herds- 
man of  the  cattle  hit  Ctesippus  in  the  breast  and 
cried  in  triumph : 

"  Ha,  son  of  Polytherses,  ready  mocker,  never  again 
give  way  to  folly  and  big  words  !  Leave  boasting  to 
the  gods  ;  they  are  stronger  far  than  you.  This  gift 
offsets  the  hoof  you  gave  to  great  Odysseus  a  little 
while  ago,  when  in  his  house  he  played  the  beggar 
man." 

So  spoke  the  herdsman  of  the  crook-horned  kine. 
Then  Odvsseus  wounded  Damastor's  son  with  his  long 
spear,  when  fighting  hand  to  hand.  Telemachus 
wounded  Evenor's  son,  Leiocritus,  with  a  spear-thrust 
in  the  middle  of  the  waist,  and  drove  the  point  clean 
through.  He  fell  on  his  face  and  struck  the  ground 
flat  with  his  forehead.  And  now  Athene  from  the 
roof  above  stretched  forth  her  murderous  aegis. 
Their  souls  were  panic-stricken.  They  scurried 
through  the  hall  like  herded  cows,  on  whom  the 
glancing  gadfly  falls  and  maddens  them,  in  spring- 
time when  the  days  are  long.  And  as  the  crook- 
clawed  hook-beaked  vultures,  descending  from  the 
hills,  dart  at  the  birds  which  fly  the  clouds  and  skim 
the  plain,  while  the  vultures  pounce  and  kill  them  ; 
defense  they  have  not  and  have  no  escape,  and  men 


352  THE    ODYSSEY.         [XXII.  306-336. 

are  merry  at  their  capture  ;  so  the  four  chased  the 
suitors  down  the  hall  and  smote  them  right  and  left. 
There  went  up  moans,  a  dismal  sound,  as  skulls  were 
crushed  and  all  the  pavement  ran  with  blood. 

But  Leiodes,  rushing  forward,  clasped  Odysseus  by 
the  knees,  and  spoke  imploringly  these  winged  words  : 
"  I  clasp  your  knees,  Odysseus  !  Oh,  respect  and  spare 
me !  For  I  protest  I  never  harmed  a  woman  of  the 
house  by  wicked  word  or  act.  No !  and  I  used  to  try 
to  stop  the  rest,  —  the  suitors,  —  when  one  of  them 
would  do  such  deeds.  But  they  were  not  inclined  to 
hold  their  hands  from  wrong.  So  through  their  own 
perversity  they  met  a  dismal  doom ;  and  I,  their  sooth- 
sayer, although  I  did  no  ill,  must  also  fall.  There  is 
no  gratitude  for  good  deeds  done !  " 

Then  looking  sternly  on  him  wise  Odysseus  said : 
"  If  you  avow  yourself  their  soothsayer,  many  a  time 
you  must  have  prayed  within  the  hall  that  the  issue  of 
a  glad  return  might  be  delayed  for  me,  while  my  dear 
wife  should  follow  you  and  bear  you  children.  There- 
fore you  shall  not  now  avoid  a  shameful  death." 

So  saying,  he  seized  in  his  sturdy  hand  a  sword 
that  lay  near  by,  a  sword  which  Agelaiis  had  dropped 
upon  the  ground  when  he  was  slain,  and  drove  it 
through  the  middle  of  Leiodes'  neck.  While  he  yet 
spoke,  his  head  rolled  in  the  dust. 

But  the  bard,  the  son  of  Terpes,  still  had  escaped 
dark  doom,  —  Phemius,  who  sang  perforce  among  the 
suitors.  He  stood,  holding  the  tuneful  lyre  in  his 
hands,  close  to  the  postern-door ;  and  in  his  heart  he 
doubted  whether  to  hasten  from  the  hall  to  the  mas- 
sive altar  of  great  Zeus,  guardian  of  courts,  and  take 
his  seat  where  oftentimes  Laertes  and  Odysseus  had 
burned  the   thighs  of  beeves  ;  or  whether  he  should 


XXII.  337-369.J        THE   ODYSSEY.  353 

run  and  clasp  Odysseus  by  the  knees.  Reflecting 
thus,  it  seemed  the  better  way  to  touch  the  knees  of 
Laertes'  son,  Odysseus.  He  laid  his  hollow  lyre  upon 
the  ground,  niidwav  between  the  mixer  and  the  silver- 
studded  chair,  ran  forward  to  Odysseus,  clasped  his 
knees,  and  spoke  imploringly  these  winged  words  : 

"  I  clasp  your  knees,  Odysseus !  Oh,  respect  and 
spare  me  !  To  you  yourself  hereafter  grief  will  come, 
if  you  destroy  a  bard  who  sings  to  gods  and  men. 
Self-taught  am  I ;  God  planted  in  my  heart  all  kinds 
of  song ;  and  I  had  thought  to  sing  to  you  as  to  a  god. 
Then  do  not  seek  to  slay  me.  Telemachus,  your  own 
dear  son,  will  say  how  not  through  will  of  mine,  nor 
seeking  gain,  I  lingered  at  your  palace,  singing  to  the 
suitors  at  their  feasts  ;  for  being  more  and  stronger 
men  than  I,  they  brought  me  here  by  force." 

What  he  had  said  revered  Telemachus  heard,  and 
he  quickly  called  to  his  father  who  was  standing  near  : 
"  Hold  !  For  the  man  is  guiltless.  Do  not  stab  him 
with  the  sword !  And  let  us  also  spare  Medon,  the 
page,  who  here  at  home  used  to  have  charge  of  me 
while  I  was  still  a  chiM,  —  unless  indeed  Philoetius  or 
the  swineherd  slew  him,  or  he  encountered  you  as  you 
stormed  along  the  hall." 

What  he  was  saying  Medon,  that  man  of  under- 
standing, heard  ;  for  he  lay  crouching  underneath  a 
chair,  wrapped  in  a  fresh-flayed  ox's  hide,  seeking  to 
shun  dark  doom.  Straightway  he  rose  from  underneath 
the  chair,  quickly  cast  off  the  hide,  sprang  forward  to 
Telemachus,  clasped  his  knees,  and  cried  imploringly 
in  winged  words  : 

"  Friend,  stay  your  hand  !  It  is  I !  And  speak  to 
your  father,  or  exulting  in  his  sharp  sword  he  will 
destroy  me  out  of   indignation  at  the   suitors,  who 


354  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XXII.  370-402. 

wasted  the  possessions  in  his  halls  and  in  their  folly 
paid  no  heed  to  you." 

But  wise  Odysseus,  smiling,  said :  "  Be  of  good 
cheer,  for  he  has  cleared  and  saved  you  ;  that  in  your 
heart  you  may  perceive  and  may  report  to  others  host — 
much  more  safe  is  doing  good  than  ill.  But  both  of 
you  leave  the  hall  and  sit  outside,  out  of  this  blood- 
shed, in  the  court,  —  you  and  the  full-voiced  bard,  — 
till  I  have  accomplished  in  the  house  all  that  I  still 
must  do." 

Even  as  he  spoke,  the  pair  went  forth  and  left  the 
hall,  and  both  sat  down  by  the  altar  of  great  Zeus, 
peering  about  on  every  side  as  still  expecting  death. 
Odysseus  too  peered  round  his  hall  to  see  if  any  liv- 
ing man  were  lurking  there,  seeking  to  shun  dark 
doom.  He  found  them  all  laid  low  in  blood  and  dust, 
and  in  such  numbers  as  the  fish  which  fishermen  draw 
to  the  shelving  shore  out  of  the  foaming  sea  in  meshy 
nets ;  these  all,  sick  for  the  salt  sea  wave,  lie  heaped 
upon  the  sands,  while  the  resplendent  sun  takes  life 
away ;  so  lay  the  suitors,  heaped  on  one  another.  And 
now  to  Telemachus  said  wise  Odysseus : 

"  Telemachus,  go  call  nurse  Eurycleia,  that  I  may 
speak  to  her  the  thing  I  have  in  mind." 

He  spoke,  and  Telemachus  heeded  his  dear  father 
and,  shaking  the  door,  said  to  nurse  Eurycleia  :  "  Up  ! 
aged  woman,  who  have  charge  of  all  the  damsels  in 
our  hall !  Come  hither !  My  father  calls  and  wants 
to  speak  with  you." 

Such  were  his  words ;  unwinged,  they  rested  with 
her.  Opening  the  doors  of  the  stately  hall,  she  en- 
tered. Telemachus  led  the  way.  And  there  among 
the  bodies  of  the  slain  she  found  Odysseus,  dabbled 
with  blood  and  gore,  like  a  lion  come  from  feeding 


XXII.  403-136.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  355 

on  some  stall-fed  ox  ;  its  whole  breast  and  its  cheeks 
on  either  side  are  bloody ;  terrible  is  the  beast  to  see ; 
so  dabbled  was  Odysseus,  feet  and  hands.  And  when 
she  saw  the  bodies  and  the  quantity  of  blood,  she 
was  ready  to  cry  aloud  at  the  sight  of  the  mighty  deed. 
But  Odysseus  held  her  back  and  stayed  her  madness, 
and  speaking  in  winged  words  he  said : 

"  Woman,  be  glad  within  ;  but  hush,  and  make  no 
cry.  It  is  not  right  to  glory  in  the  slain.  The  gods' 
doom  and  their  reckless  deeds  destroyed  them  ;  for 
they  respected  nobody  on  earth,  bad  man  or  good, 
who  came  among  them.  So  through  their  own  per- 
versity they  met  a  dismal  doom.  But  name  me  now 
the  women  of  the  hall,  and  tell  me  who  dishonor  me 
and  who  are  guiltless." 

Then  said  to  him  his  dear  nurse  Eurycleia  :  "  Then 
I  will  tell  you,  child,  the  very  truth.  You  have  fifty 
women-servants  at  the  hall  whom  we  have  taught  their 
tasks,  to  card  the  wool  and  bear  the  servant's  lot. 
Out  of  these  women,  twelve  in  all  have  gone  the  way 
of  shame,  paying  no  heed  to  me  nor  even  to  Pene- 
lope. Tt  is  but  lately  Telemachus  has  come  to  man- 
hood, and  his  mother  has  never  suffered  him  to  rule 
the  maids.  But  let  me  go  above,  to  the  bright  upper 
chamber,  and  tell  your  wife,  whom  a  god  has  laid 
asleep." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said:  "Do 
not  awake  her  yet ;  tell  those  women  to  come  here 
who  in  the  past  behaved  unworthily." 

So  he  spoke,  and  through  the  hall  forth  the  old 
woman  went,  to  give  the  message  to  the  maids  and  bid 
them  come  with  speed.  Meanwhile  Odysseus,  calling 
to  his  side  Telemachus,  the  neatherd,  and  the  swine- 
herd, spoke  to  them  thus  in  winged  words  : 


356  THE    ODYSSEY.  [XXII.  437-469- 

"Begin  to  carry  off  the  dead,  and  bid  the  women 
aid  you ;  then  let  them  clean  the  goodly  chairs  and 
tables  with  water  and  porous  sponges.  And  wheri  you 
have  set  in  order  all  the  house,  lead  forth  these  serv- 
ing-maids out  of  the  stately  hall  to  a  spot  between  the 
round-house  and  the  neat  court-yard  wall,  and  smite 
them  with  your  long  swords  till  you  take  life  from  all ; 
and  so  they  may  forget  the  love  they  had  among  the 
suitors,  when  they  would  meet  them  unobserved." 

He  spoke,  and  the  women  came,  trooping  along 
together,  in  bitter  lamentation,  letting  the  big  tears 
fall.  First  they  carried  out  the  bodies  of  the  dead 
and  laid  them  by  the  portico  of  the  fenced  court,  piling 
them  there  one  on  another.  Odysseus  gave  the  orders 
and  hastened  on  the  work,  and  only  because  compelled- 
the  maids  bore  off  the  bodies.  Then  afterwards  they 
cleaned  the  goodly  chairs  and  tables  with  water  and 
porous  sponges.  Telemachus,  the  neatherd  and  the 
swineherd  with  shovels  scraped  the  pavement  of  the 
strong-built  room,  and  the  maids  took  up  the  scrapings 
and  threw  them  out  of  doors.  And  when  they  had 
set  in  order  all  the  hall,  they  led  the  serving-maids 
out  of  the  stately  hall  to  a  spot  between  the  round- 
house and  the  neat  court-yard  wall,  and'  there  they 
shut  them  in  a  narrow  space  whence  there  was  no 
escape.     Then  thus  began  discreet  Telemachus : 

"  By  no  honorable  death  would  I  take  away  the 
lives  of  those  who  poured  reproaches  on  my  head  and 
on  my  mother,  and  lay  beside  the  suitors." 

He  spoke,  and  tied  the  cable  of  a  dark-bowed  ship 
to  a  great  pillar,  then  lashed  it  to  the  round-house, 
stretching  it  high  across,  too  high  for  one  to  touch 
the  feet  upon  the  ground.  And  as  the  wide-winged 
thrushes  or  the  doves  strike  on  a  net  set  in  the  bushes  ; 


XXII.  470-501.1  THE    ODYSSEY.  357 

and  when  they  think  to  go  to  roost  a  cruel  bed  re- 
ceives them ;  even  so  the  women  held  their  heads  in 
line,  and  around  every  neck  a  noose  was  laid,  that 
they  might  die  most  vilely.  They  twitched  their  feet 
a  little,  but  not  long. 

Then  forth  they  led  Melanthius  across  the  porch 
and  yard.  With  ruthless  sword  they  lopped  his  nose 
and  ears,  pulled  out  his  bowels  to  be  eaten  raw  by 
dogs,  and  in  their  rage  cut  off  his  hands  and  feet. 

Afterwards  washing  clean  their  own  hands  and  their 
feet,  they  went  to  meet  Odysseus  in  the  house,  and  all 
the  work  was  done.  But  to  his  dear  nurse  Eurycleia 
said  Odysseus  :  "  Woman,  bring  sulphur,  a  protection 
against  harm,  and  bring  me  fire  to  fumigate  the  hall. 
And  bid  Penelope  come  hither  with  her  women,  and 
order  all  the  maids  throughout  the  house  to  come." 

Then  said  to  him  his  dear  nurse  Eurycleia :  "  Truly, 
my  child,  in  all  this  you  speak  rightly.  Yet  let  me 
fetch  you  clothes,  a  coat  and  tunic.  And  do  not,  with 
this  covering  of  rags  on  your  broad  shoulders,  stand  in 
the  hall.     That  would  be  cause  for  blame." 

But  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said :  "  First 
let  a  fire  be  lighted  in  the  hall." 

At  these  his  words,  his  dear  nurse  Eurycleia  did  not 
disobey,  but  brought  the  fire  and  sulphur.  Odysseus 
fumigated  all  the  hall,  the  buildings  and  the  court. 

And  now  the  old  woman  passed  through  the  goodly 
palace  of  Odysseus  to  take  his  message  to  the  maids 
and  bid  them  come  with  speed.  Out  of  their  room 
they  came,  with  torches  in  their  hands.  They  gath- 
ered round  Odysseus,  hailing  him  with  delight. 
Fondly  they  kissed  his  face  and  neck,  and  held  him 
by  the  hand.  Glad  longing  fell  upon  him  to  weep  and 
cry  aloud.     All  these  he  knew  were  true. 


xxm. 

THE   RECOGNITION   BY   PENELOPE. 

So  the  old  woman,  full  of  glee,  went  to  the  upper 
chamber  to  tell  her  mistress  her  dear  lord  was  in  the 
house.  Her  knees  grew  strong;  her  feet  outran 
themselves.  By  Penelope's  head  she  paused,  and 
thus  she  spoke  : 

"  Awake,  Penelope,  dear  child,  to  see  with  your  own 
eyes  what  you  have  hoped  to  see  this  many  a  day  ! 
Odysseus  is  here  !  He  has  come  home  at  last,  and  slain 
the  haughty  suitors,  —  the  men  who  vexed  his  house, 
devoured  his  substance,  and  oppressed  his  son." 

Then  heedful  Penelope  said  to  her :  "  Dear  nurse, 
the  gods  have  crazed  }tou.  They  can  befool  one  who 
is  very  wise,  and  often  they  have  set  the  simple  in  the 
paths  of  prudence.  They  have  confused  you ;  you 
were  sober-minded  heretofore.  Why  mock  me  when 
my  heart  is  full  of  sorrow,  telling  wild  tales  like  these  ? 
And  why  arouse  me  from  the  sleep  that  sweetly  bound 
me  and  kept  my  eyelids  closed  ?  I  have  not  slept  so 
soundly  since  Odysseus  went  away  to  see  accursed 
Ilios,  —  name  never  to  be  named.  Nay  then,  go 
down,  back  to  the  hall.  If  any  other  of  my  maids 
had  come  and  told  me  this  and  waked  me  out  of 
sleep,  I  would  soon  have  sent  her  off  in  sorry  wise 
into  the  hall  once  more.  This  time  age  serves  you 
well." 

Then  said  to  her  the  good  nurse  Eurycleia :  "  Dear 


XXIII.  26-57.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  359 

child,  I  do  not  mock  you.  In  very  truth  it  is  Odys- 
seus ;  he  is  come,  as  I  have  said.  He  is  the  stranger 
whom  everybody  in  the  hall  has  set  at  naught.  Te- 
lemachus  knew  long  ago  that  he  was  here,  but  out  of 
prudence  hid  his  knowledge  of  his  father  till  he 
should  have  revenge  from  these  bold  men  for  wicked 
deeds." 

So  spoke  she ;  and  Penelope  was  glad,  and,  spring- 
ing from  her  bed,  fell  on  the  woman's  neck,  and  let 
the  tears  burst  from  her  e}res  ;  and,  speaking  in  winged 
words,  she  said  :  "  Nay,  tell  me,  then,  dear  nurse,  and 
tell  me  truly ;  if  he  is  really  come  as  you  declare,  how 
was  it  he  laid  hands  upon  the  shameless  suitors,  being 
alone,  while  they  were  always  here  together  ? ' 

Then  answered  her  the  good  nurse  Eurycleia:  "I 
did  not  see  ;  I  did  not  ask ;  I  only  heard  the  groans 
of  dying  men.  In  a  corner  of  our  protected  chamber 
we  sat  and  trembled,  —  the  doors  were  tightly  closed, 
—  until  your  son  Telemachus  called  to  me  from  the 
hall ;  for  his  father  bade  him  call.  And  there  among 
the  bodies  of  the  slain  I  found  Odysseus  standing. 
All  around,  covering  the  trodden  floor,  they  lay,  one 
on  another.  It  would  have  warmed  your  heart  to  see 
him,  like  a  lion,  dabbled  with  blood  and  gore.  Now 
all  the  bodies  are  collected  at  the  courtyard  gate, 
while  he  is  fumigating  the  fair  house  by  lighting  a 
great  fire.  He  sent  me  here  to  call  you.  Follow  me, 
then,  that  you  may  come  to  gladness  in  your  true 
hearts  together,  for  sorely  have  you  suffered.  Now 
the  long  hope  has  been  at  last  fulfilled.  He  has  come 
back  alive  to  his  own  hearth,  and  found  you  still,  you 
and  his  son,  within  his  hall ;  and  upon  those  who  did 
him  wrong,  the  suitors,  on  all  of  them  here  in  his 
home  he  has  obtained  revenge." 


360  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XXIII.  58-91. 

Then  heedful  Penelope  said  to  her :  "  Dear  nurse, 
be  not  too  boastful  yet,  nor  filled  with  glee.  You 
know  how  welcome  here  the  sight  of  him  would  be  to 
all,  and  most  to  me  and  to  the  son  we  had.  But  this 
is  no  true  tale  you  tell.  Nay,  rather  some  immortal 
slew  the  lordly  suitors,  in  anger  at  their  galling  inso- 
lence and  wicked  deeds  ;  for  they  respected  nobody 
on  earth,  bad  man  or  good,  who  came  among  them. 
So  for  their  sins  they  suffered.  But  Odysseus,  far 
from  Achaea,  lost  the  hope  of  coming  home  ;  nay,  he 
himself  was  lost." 

Then  answered  her  the  good  nurse  Eurycleia  :  "  My 
child,  what  word  has  passed  the  barrier  of  your  teeth, 
to  say  your  husband,  who  is  now  beside  your  hearth, 
will  never  come !  Your  heart  is  always  doubting. 
Come,  then,  and  let  me  name  another  sign  most  sure, 
—  the  scar  the  boar  dealt  long  ago  with  his  white  tusk. 
I  found  it  as  I  washed  him,  and  I  would  have  told  you 
then ;  but  he  laid  his  hand  upon  my  mouth,  and  in 
his  watchful  wisdom  would  not  let  me  speak.  But 
follow  me.  I  stake  my  very  life  ;  if  I  deceive  yon, 
slay  me  by  the  vilest  death." 

Then  heedful  Penelope  answered  her  :  "  Dear  nurse, 
't  is  hard  for  you  to  trace  the  counsels  of  the  everlast- 
ing gods,  however  wise  you  are.  Nevertheless,  let  us 
go  down  to  meet  my  son,  and  see  the  suitors  who  are 
dead,  and  him  who  slew  them." 

So  saying,  she  went  from  her  chamber  to  the  hall, 
and  much  her  heart  debated  whether  aloof  to  ques- 
tion her  dear  husband,  or  to  draw  near  and  kiss  his 
face  and  take  his  hand.  But  when  she  entered,  cross- 
ing the  stone  threshold,  she  sat  down  opposite  Odys- 
seus, in  the  firelight,  beside  the  farther  wall.  He  sat 
by  a  tall  pillar,  looking  down,  waiting  to  hear  if  his 


XXIII.  92-124.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  361 

stately  wife  would  speak  when  she  should  look  his 
way.  But  she  sat  silent  long ;  amazement  filled  her 
heart.  Now  she  would  gaze  with  a  long  look  upon 
his  face,  and  now  she  would  not  know  him  for  the 
mean  clothes  that  he  wore.  But  Telemachus  rebuked 
her,  and  spoke  to  her  and  said : 

"  Mother,  hard  mother,  of  ungentle  heart,  why  do 
vou  hold  aloof  so  from  my  father,  and  do  not  sit  beside 
him,  plying  him  with  words  and  questions?  There  is 
no  other  woman  of  such  stubborn  spirit  to  stand  off 
from  the  husband  who,  after  many  grievous  toils, 
comes  in  the  twentieth  year  home  to  his  native  land. 
Your  heart  is  always  harder  than  a  stone ! ' 

Then  said  to  him  heedful  Penelope :  "  My  child, 
my  soul  within  is  dazed  with  wonder.  I  cannot  speak 
to  him,  nor  ask  a  question,  nor  look  him  in  the  face. 
But  if  tins  is  indeed  Odysseus,  come  at  last,  we  cer- 
tainly shall  know  each  other  better  than  others  know ; 
for  we  have  signs  which  we  two  understand,  —  signs 
hidden  from  the  rest." 

As  she,  long  tried,  spoke  thus,  royal  Odysseus 
smiled,  and  said  to  Telemachus  forthwith  in  winged 
words  :  "  Telemachus,  leave  your  mother  in  the  hall 
to  try  my  truth.  She  soon  will  know  me  better. 
Now,  because  I  am  foul  and  dressed  in  sorry  clothes, 
she  holds  me  in  dishonor,  and  says  I  am  not  he.  But 
you  and  I  have  yet  to  plan  how  all  may  turn  out  well. 
For  whoso  kills  one  man  among  a  tribe,  though  the 
man  leaves  few  champions  behind,  becomes  an  exile, 
quitting  kin  and  country.  We  have  destroyed  the 
pillars  of  the  state,  the  very  noblest  youths  of  Ithaca. 
Form,  then,  a  plan,  I  pray." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus :  "  Look 
you  to  that,  dear  father.     Your  wisdom  is,  they  say, 


362  THE   ODYSSEY.       [XXIII.  125-160. 

the  best  among  mankind.  No  mortal  man  can  rival 
you.  Zealously  will  we  follow,  and  not  fail,  I  think, 
in  daring,  so  far  as  power  is  ours." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said :  "  Then 
I  will  tell  you  what  seems  best  to  me.  First  wash  and 
put  on  tunics,  and  bid  the  maids  about  the  house  array 
themselves.  Then  let  the  sacred  bard  with  tuneful 
lyre  lead  us  in  sportive  dancing,  that  men  may  say, 
hearing  us  from  without,  'It  is  a  wedding,'  whether 
such  men  be  passers-by  or  neighboring  folk  ;  and  so 
broad  rumor  may  not  reach  the  town  about  the  suit- 
ors' murder  till  we  are  gone  to  our  well-wooded  farm. 
There  will  we  plan  as  the  Olympian  shall  grant  us 
wisdom." 

So  he  spoke,  and  willingly  they  heeded  and  obeyed. 
For  first  they  washed  themselves  and  put  on  tunics, 
and  the  women  also  put  on  their  attire.  And  then  the 
noble  bard  took  up  his  hollow  lyre,  and  in  them  stirred 
desire  for  merry  music  and  the  gallant  dance  ;  and 
the  great  house  resounded  to  the  tread  of  lusty  men 
and  gay-girt  women.  And  one  who  heard  the  dancing 
from  without  would  say,  "  Well,  well !  some  man  has 
married  the  long-courted  queen.  Hard-hearted  !  For 
the  husband  of  her  youth  she  would  not  guard  her 
great  house  to  the  end,  till  he  should  come."  So  they 
would  say,  but  knew  not  how  things  were. 

Meanwhile  within  the  house  Eurynome,  the  house- 
keeper, bathed  resolute  Odysseus  and  anointed  him 
with  oil,  and  on  him  put  a  goodly  robe  and  tunic. 
Upon  his  face  Athene  cast  great  beauty ;  she  made 
him  taller  than  before,  and  stouter  to  behold,  and 
made  the  curling  locks  to  fall  around  his  head  as  on 
the  hyacinth  flower.  As  when  a  man  lays  gold 
on  silver,  —  some  skillful  man  whom  Hephaestus  and 


XXIII.  161-191.]         THE    ODYSSEY.  3G3 

Pallas  Athene  have  trained  in  every  art,  and  he  fash- 
ions graceful  work ;  so  did  she  cast  a  grace  upon  his 
head  and  shoulders.  Forth  from  the  bath  he  came, 
in  bearing  like  the  immortals,  and  once  more  took 
the  seat  from  which  he  first  arose,  faciug  his  wife,  and 
spoke  to  her  these  words  : 

"Lady,  a  heart  impenetrable  beyond  the  sex  of 
women  the  dwellers  on  Olympus  gave  to  you.  There 
is  no  other  woman  of  such  stubborn  spirit  to  stand 
off  from  the  husband  who,  after  many  grievous  toils, 
comes  in  the  twentieth  year  home  to  his  native  land. 
Come,  then,  good  nurse,  and  make  my  bed,  that  I  may 
lie  alone.  For  certainly  of  iron  is  the  heart  within 
her  breast." 

Then  said  to  him  heedful  Penelope :  "  Nay,  sir,  I 
am  not  proud,  nor  contemptuous  of  you,  nor  too  much 
dazed  with  wonder.  I  very  well  remember  what  you 
were  when  you  went  upon  your  long-oared  ship  away 
from  Ithaca.  However,  Eurycleia,  make  up  his  mas- 
sive bed  outside  that  stately  chamber  which  he  himself 
once  built.  Move  the  massive  frame  out  there,  and 
throw  the  bedding  on,  —  the  fleeces,  robes,  and  bright- 
hued  rugs." 

She  said  this  in  the  hope  to  prove  her  husband; 
but  Odysseus  spoke  in  anger  to  his  faithful  wife : 
"  Woman,  these  are  bitter  words  which  you  have  said ! 
Who  set  my  bed  elsewhere  ?  A  hard  task  that  would 
be  for  one,  however  skilled,  —  unless  a  god  should  come 
and  by  his  will  set  it  with  ease  upon  some  other  spot ; 
but  among  men  no  living  being,  even  in  his  prime, 
could  lightly  shift  it ;  for  a  great  token  is  inwrought 
into  its  curious  frame.  I  built  it ;  no  one  else.  There 
grew  a  thick-leaved  olive  shrub  inside  the  yard,  full- 
grown    and    vigorous,    in    girth   much    like  a   pillar. 


364  THE    ODYSSEY.        [XXIII.  192-223. 

Round  this  I  formed  my  chamber,  and  I  worked  till 
it  was  done,  building  it  out  of  close-set  stones,  and 
roofing  it  over  well.  Framed  and  tight-fitting  doors 
I  added  to  it.  Then  I  lopped  the  thick-leaved  olive's 
crest,  cutting  the  stem  high  up  above  the  roots,  neatly 
and  skillfully  smoothed  with  my  axe  the  sides,  and  to 
the  line  I  kept  all  true  to  shape  my  post,  and  with  an 
auger  I  bored  it  all  along.  Starting  with  this,  I  fash- 
ioned me  the  bed  till  it  was  finished,  and  I  inlaid  it 
well  with  gold,  with  silver,  and  with  ivory.  On  it  I 
stretched  a  thong  of  ox-hide,  gay  with  purple.  This 
is  the  token  I  now  tell.  I  do  not  know  whether  the 
bed  still  stands  there,  wife,  or  whether  somebody  has 
set  it  elsewhere,  cutting  the  olive  trunk." 

As  he  spoke  thus,  her  knees  grew  feeble  and  her 
very  soul,  when  she  recognized  the  tokens  which  Odys- 
seus exactly  told.  Then  bursting  into  tears,  she  ran 
straight  toward  him,  threw  her  arms  round  Odysseus' 
neck  and  kissed  his  face,  and  said : 

"  Odysseus,  do  not  scorn  me !  Ever  before,  you 
were  the  wisest  of  mankind.  The  gods  have  sent  us 
sorrow,  and  grudged  our  staying:  side  bv  side  to  share 
the  joys  of  youth  and  reach  the  threshold  of  old  age. 
But  do  not  be  angry  with  me  now,  nor  take  it  ill 
that  then  when  I  first  saw  you  I  did  not  greet  you 
thus ;  for  the  heart  within  my  breast  was  always 
trembling.  I  feared  some  man  might  come  and  cheat 
me  with  his  tale.  Many  a  man  makes  wicked  schemes 
for  gain.  Nay,  Argive  Helen,  the  daughter  of  Zeus, 
would  not  have  given  herself  to  love  a  stranger  if  she 
had  known  how  warrior  sons  of  the  Achaean s  would 
bring  her  home  again,  back  to  her  native  land.  And 
yet  it  was  a  god  prompted  her  deed  of  shame.  Be- 
fore, she  did  not  cherish  in  her  heart  such  sin,  such 


XXIII.  224-257.]        THE    ODYSSEY.  365 

grievous  sin,  from  which  began  the  woe  which 
stretched  to  us.  But  now,  when  you  have  clearly  told 
the  tokens  of  our  bed,  which  no  one  else  has  seen,  but 
only  you  and  I  and  the  single  servant,  Actoris,  whom 
my  father  gave  me  on  my  coming  here  to  keep  the 
door  of  our  closed  chamber,  —  you  make  even  my  un- 
gentle heart  believe." 

So  she  spoke,  and  stirred  still  more  his  yearning 
after  tears ;  and  he  began  to  weep,  holding  his  loved 
and  faithful  wife.  As  when  the  welcome  land  appears 
to  swimmers,  whose  sturdy  shij)  Poseidon  wrecked  at 
sea,  confounded  by  the  winds  and  solid  waters ;  a  few 
escape  the  foaming  sea  and  swim  ashore  ;  thick  salt 
foam  crusts  their  flesh ;  they  climb  the  welcome  land, 
and  are  escaped  from  danger;  so  welcome  to  her  gaz- 
ing eyes  appeared  her  husband.  From  round  his  neck 
she  never  let  her  white  arms  go.  And  rosy-fingered 
dawn  had  found  them  weeping,  but  a  different  plan 
the  goddess  formed,  clear-eyed  Athene.  She  checked 
the  long  night  in  its  passage,  and  at  the  Ocean-stream 
she  stayed  the  gold-throned  dawn,  and  did  not  suffer 
it  to  yoke  the  swift-paced  horses  which  carry  light 
to  men,  Lampus  and  Phaeton  which  bear  the  dawn. 
And  now  to  his  wife  said  wise  Odysseus  : 

"  O  wife,  we  have  not  reached  the  end  of  all  our 
trials  yet.  Hereafter  comes  a  task  immeasurable, 
lono-  and  severe,  which   I   must  needs  fulfill ;  for  so 

™  7 

the  spirit  of  Teiresias  told  me,  that  day  when  I  de- 
scended to  the  house  of  Hades  to  learn  about  the 
journey  of  my  comrades  and  myself.  But  come,  my 
wife,  let  us  to  bed,  that  there  at  last  we  may  refresh 
ourselves  with  pleasant  sleep." 

Then  said  to  him  heedful  Penelope  :  "  The  bed  shall 
be  prepared  whenever  your  heart  wills,  now  that  the 


366  THE    ODYSSEY.        [XXIII.  258-292. 

gods  have  let  you  reach  your  stately  house  and  native 
land.  But  since  you  speak  of  this,  and  God  inspires 
your  heart,  come,  tell  that  trial.  In  time  to  come,  I 
know,  I  shall  experience  it.  To  learn  about  it  now, 
makes  it  no  worse." 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  her  and  said :  "  Lady, 
why  urge  me  so  insistently  to  tell  ?  Well,  I  will 
speak  it  out ;  I  will  not  hide  it.  Yet  your  heart  will 
feel  no  joy ;  I  have  no  joy  myself  ;  for  Teiresias  bade 
me  go  to  many  a  peopled  town,  bearing  in  hand  a 
shapely  oar,  till  I  should  reach  the  men  that  know  no 
sea  and  do  not  eat  food  mixed  with  salt.  These, 
therefore,  have  no  knowledge  of  the  red-cheeked  ships, 
nor  of  the  shapely  oars  which  are  the  wings  of  ships. 
And  this  was  the  sign,  he  said,  easy  to  be  observed. 
I  will  not  hide  it  from  you.  When  another  traveler, 
meeting  me,  should  say  I  had  a  winn owing-fan  on  my 
white  shoulder,  there  in  the  ground  he  bade  me  fix  my 
oar  and  make  fit  offerings  to  lord  Poseidon,  —  a  ram, 
a  bull,  and  the  sow's  mate,  a  boar,  —  and,  turning 
homeward,  to  offer  sacred  hecatombs  to  the  immortal 
gods  who  hold  the  open  sky,  all  in  the  order  due. 
And  on  myself  death  from  the  sea  shall  very  gently 
come  and  cut  me  off,  bowed  down  with  hale  old  age. 
Round  me  shall  be  a  prosperous  people.  All  this,  he 
said,  should  be  fulfilled." 

Then  said  to  him  heedful  Penelope  :  "  If  gods  can 
make  old  age  the  better  time,  then  there  is  hope 
there  will  be  rest  from  trouble." 

So  they  conversed  together.  Meanwhile,  Eurynome 
and  the  nurse  prepared  their  bed  with  clothing  soft, 
under  the  light  of  blazing  torches.  And  after  they 
had  spread  the  comfortable  bed,  with  busy  speed,  the 
old  woman  departed  to  her  room  to  rest ;  while  the 


XXIII.  £93-324.]        THE   ODYSSEY.  367 

chamber-servant,  Eurynome,  with  torch  in  hand, 
walked  on  before,  as  they  two  came  to  bed.  She 
brought  them  to  their  chamber,  and  then  she  went  her 
way.  So  they  came  gladly  to  their  old  bed's  rites. 
And  now  Teleinaclms,  the  neatherd  and  the  swine- 
herd stayed  their  feet  from  dancing,  and  bade  the 
women  stay,  and  all  betook  themselves  to  rest  through- 
out the  dusky  halls. 

So  when  the  pair  had  joyed  in  happy  love,  they 
joyed  in  talking  too,  each  one  relating  :  she,  the  royal 
lady,  what  she  endured  at  home,  watching  the  waste- 
ful throng  of  suitors,  who,  making  excuse  of  her, 
slew  many  cattle,  beeves,  and  sturdy  sheep,  and  stores 
of  wine  were  drained  from  out  the  casks  ;  he,  high- 
born Odysseus,  what  miseries  he  brought  on  other 
men  and  what  he  bore  himself  in  anguish,  —  all  he 
told,  and  she  was  glad  to  listen.  No  sleep  fell  on  her 
eyelids  till  he  had  told  her  all. 

He  began  with  how  at  first  he  conquered  the  Cico- 
nians,  and  came  thereafter  to  the  fruitful  land  of 
Lotus-eaters  ;  then  what  the  Cyclops  did,  and  how  he 
took  revenge  for  the  brave  comrades  whom  the  Cy- 
clops ate  and  never  pitied ;  then  how  he  came  to 
Aeolus,  who  gave  him  hearty  welcome  and  sent  him 
on  his  way ;  but  it  was  fated  that  he  should  not 
reach  his  dear  land  yet,  for  a  sweeping  storm  bore 
him  once  more  along  the  swarming  sea,  loudly  la- 
menting ;  how  he  came  to  Telepylus  in  Laestrygonia, 
where  the  men  destroyed  his  ships  and  his  mailed  .J 
comrades,  Vail  of  them  ;  Odysseus  fled  in  his  black  ^tV 
ship  alone.^  He  told  of  Circe,  too,  and  all  her  crafty  /^jt 
guile ;  and  how  on  a  ship  of  many  oars  he  came  to 
the  mouldering  house  of  Hades,  there  to  consult  the 
spirit  of  Teiresias  of  Thebes,  and  looked  on  all  his 


368  THE    ODYSSEY.       [XXIII.  325-357. 

comrades,  and  on  the  mother  who  had  borne  him  and 
cared  for  him  when  little ;  how  he  had  heard  the  full- 
voiced  Sirens'  song ;  how  he  came  to  the  Wandering1 
Rocks,  to  dire  Charybdis  and  to  Scylla,  past  whom 
none  goes  unharmed  ;  how  then  his  crew  slew  the 
Sun's  kine ;  how  Zeus  with  a  blazing  bolt  smote  his 
swift  ship,  —  Zeus,  thundering  from  on  high, —  and 
his  good  comrades  perished,  utterly,  all,  while  he 
escaped  their  evil  doom  ;  how  he  came  to  the  island  of 
Ogygia  and  to  the  nymph  Calypso,  who  held  him  in 
her  hollow  grotto,  wishing  him  to  be  her  husband, 
cherishing  him,  and  saying  she  would  make  him  an 
immortal,  young  forever,  but  she  never  beguiled  the 
heart  within  his  breast ;  then  how  he  came  through 
many  toils  to  the  Phaeacians,  who  honored  him  ex- 
ceedingly, as  if  he  were  a  god,  and  brought  him  on 
his  way  to  his  own  native  land,  giving  him  stores  of 
bronze  and  gold  and  clothing.  This  was  the  latest 
tale  he  told,  when  pleasant  sleep  fell  on  him,  easing 
his  limbs  and  from  his  heart  removing  care. 

Now  a  new  plan  the  goddess  formed,  clear-eyed 
Athene,  when  in  her  mind  she  judged  Odysseus  had 
enough  of  love  and  sleep.  Straightway  from  out  the 
Ocean-stream  she  roused  the  gold-throned  dawn,  to 
bring  the  light  to  men.  Odysseus  was  aroused  from 
his  soft  bed,  and  gave  his  wife  this  charge  : 

"  Wife,  we  have  had  in  days  gone  by  our  fill  of 
trials :  you,  mourning  here  my  grievous  journey  home  ; 
me,  Zeus  and  the  other  gods  bound  fast  in  sorrow,  all 
eager  as  I  was,  far  from  my  native  land.  But  since 
we  now  have  reached  the  rest  we  long  desired  to- 
gether,  do  you  protect  whatever  wealth  is  still  within 
my  halls.  As  for  the  flocks  which  the  audacious 
suitors  wasted,  I   shall  myself    seize   many,  and  the 


XXIII.  358-372.]        THE   ODYSSEY.  369 

Achaeans  shall  give  me  more  besides,  until  they  fill 
my  folds.  But  now  I  go  to  the  well-wooded  farm,  to 
visit  my  good  father,  who  for  my  sake  has  been  in 
constant  grief.  On  you,  my  wife,  wise  as  you  are,  I 
lay  this  charge.  Straight  with  the  sunrise  a  report 
will  go  abroad  about  the  suitors  whom  I  slew  here  in 
the  hall.  Then  go  to  the  upper  chamber  with  your 
waiting- worn  en.  There  abide.  Give  not  a  look  to 
any  one,  nor  ask  a  question." 

He  spoke,  and  girt  his  beautiful  arms  about  his 
shoulders  ;  and  he  awoke  Telemachus,  the  neatherd 
and  the  swineherd,  and  bade  them  all  take  weapons  in 
their  hands  for  fighting.  They  did  not  disobey,  but 
took  their  brazen  harness.  They  opened  the  doors ; 
they  sallied  forth ;  Odysseus  led  the  way.  Over  the 
land  it  was  already  light,  but  Athene,  hiding  them  in 
darkness,  led  them  swiftly  from  the  town. 


XXIV. 

PEACE. 

Meanwhile  Cyllenian  Hermes  summoned  hence 
the  spirits  of  the  suitors.  In  his  hand  he  held  a 
wand,  beautiful,  made  of  gold,  with  which  he  charms 
to  sleep  the  eyes  of  whom  he  will,  while  again  whom 
he  will  he  wakens  out  of  slumber.  With  this  he 
started  them  and  led  them  forth ;  they  followed  gib- 
bering after.  As  in  a  corner  of  a  monstrous  cave 
the  bats  fly  gibbering,  when  one  tumbles  from  the 
rock  out  of  the  cluster  as  they  cling  together ;  so  gib- 
bering, these  moved  together.  Protecting  Hermes 
was  their  guide  down  the  dank  pathway.  Past  the 
Ocean-stream  they  went,  past  the  White  Rock,  past 
the  portals  of  the  Sun  and  land  of  dreams,  and 
soon  they  reached  the  field  of  asphodel,  where  spirits 
dwell,  spectres  of  worn-out  men. 

Here  they  came  upon  the  spirit  of  Achilles,  son  of 
Peleus,  and  of  Patroclus  too,  of  gallant  Antilochus, 
and  of  Ajax,  who  wras  first  in  beauty  and  in  stature  of 
all  the  Danaiins  after  the  gallant  son  of  Peleus. 
These  formed  a  group  around  Achilles ;  to  whom 
approached  the  spirit  of  Agamemnon,  son  of  Atreus, 
sorrowing.  Around  thronged  other  spirits  of  men 
who  by  his  side  had  died  in  the  house  of  Aegisthus 
and  there  had  met  their  doom.  And  the  spirit  of  the 
son  of  Peleus  first  addressed  him  : 


XXIV.  24-55.]        THE   ODYSSEY.  371 

"  O  son  of  Atreus,  throughout  your  life  we  said 
you  were  exceeding  dear  to  Zeus,  the  Thunderer,  be- 
yond all  other  heroes,  because  you  were  the  lord  of 
many  mighty  men  there  in  the  land  of  Troy  where 
we  Achaeans  suffered ;  yet  all  too  early  you  were 
doomed  to  meet  fell  fate,  which  no  one  that  is  born 
avoids.  Ah,  would  that,  in  the  pride  of  your  full 
power,  there  in  the  land  of  Troy  you  had  met  death 
and  doom  !  Then  would  the  whole  Achaean  host  have 
made  your  grave,  and  for  your  son  in  after  days  a 
great  name  had  been  gained.  Now  you  must  be  cut 
off  by  an  inglorious  death." 

Then  said  to  him  the  spirit  of  the  son  of  Atreus : 
"Fortunate  son  of  Peleus,  godlike  Achilles,  who  died 
at  Troy,  afar  from  Argos  !  Around  you  others  fell, 
the  Trojans'  and  Achaeans'  bravest  sons,  battling  be- 
cause of  you  ;  while  in  a  cloud  of  dust  proud  you  lay 
proudly,  all  your  horsemanship  forgotten.  All  through 
the  day  we  battled,  and  never  would  have  stopped  our 
fighting  had  Zeus  himself  not  stopped  us  with  a  storm. 
And  after  we  had  borne  you  to  the  ships  from  out  the 
fight,  we  laid  you  on  a  bier  and  washed  your  comely 
body  with  warm  water  and  with  oil.  The  Danaans 
standing  round  you  shed  many  burning  tears,  and 
cut  their  hair.  Out  of  the  sea  came  forth  your 
mother,  with  the  immortal  sea  nymphs,  when  she 
heard  the  tale,  while  over  the  water  ran  a  wondrous 
wail,  and  secret  trembling  fell  on  all  the  Achaeans. 
Then  all  had  hastened  off  and  boarded  the  hollow 
ships,  if  one  had  not  detained  them  who  was  wise  in 
ancient  lore,  Nestor,  whose  counsel  had  before  been 
proved  the  best.  lie  with  good  will  addressed  them 
thus,  and  said :  '  Hold,  Argives !  Do  not  flee,  you 
young  Achaeans !     It  is  his  mother  coming  from  the 


372  THE   ODYSSEY.  [XXIV.  56-88. 

sea  with  the  immortal  nymphs  to  look  on  her  dead 
son.'  By  these  his  words  the  bold  Achaeans  were  with- 
held from  flight ;  while  round  you  stood  the  daughters 
of  the  old  man  of  the  sea,  lamenting  bitterly,  and 
with  immortal  robes  they  clad  your  body.  Mean- 
time the  Muses,  nine  in  all,  with  sweet  responsive 
voices  sang  your  dirge.  Then  not  an  Argive  could 
you  see  but  was  in  tears  ;  the  piercing  song  so  deeply 
moved  them.  For  seventeen  days,  alike  by  night  and 
day,  we  mortal  men  and  deathless  gods  continued 
mourning.  On  the  eighteenth  we  gave  you  to  the 
flames.  Many  fat  sheep  we  slew  beside  you,  and 
many  crook-horned  kine.  In  vesture  of  the  gods  you 
burned,  with  much  anointing  oil  and  much  sweet 
honey.  Many  Achaean  heroes  moved  in  their  armor 
round  your  blazing  pyre,  footmen  and  charioteers,  and 
a  loud  din  arose.  And  when  at  length  Hephaestus' 
flame  had  made  an  end  of  you,  at  dawn  we  gathered 
your  white  bones,  Achilles,  laid  in  pure  wine  aud  oil. 
Your  mother  gave  the  golden  urn ;  a  gift,  she  said,  of 
Dionysus,  and  handiwork  of  famed  Hephaestus.  In 
this  your  white  bones  lie,  illustrious  Achilles,  mingled 
with  those  of  dead  Patroclus,  son  of  Menoetius,  and 
parted  from  Antilochus,  whom  you  regarded  more 
than  all  your  other  comrades,  excepting  dead  Patro- 
clus. Over  them  all  the  powerful  host  of  Argive  spear- 
men built  a  great  stately  tomb  at  a  projecting  point  on 
the  broad  Hellespont,  so  that  it  might  be  seen  far  off 
upon  the  sea  by  men  who  now  are  born  or  shall  be 
born  hereafter.  Your  mother,  having  besought  the 
gods  for  splendid  prizes,  offered  them  in  the  open  lists 
to  the  bravest  of  the  Achaeans.  In  former  days  you 
have  been  present  at  the  burial  of  many  a  hero,  when 
at  a  king's   death   young  men  girt   themselves  and 


XXIV.  89-121.]  THE   ODYSSEY.  373 

strove  for  prizes ;  but  here  you  would  have  marveled 
in  your  heart  far  more  to  see  the  splendid  prizes 
offered  in  your  honor  by  silver-footed  Thetis ;  for  you 
were  very  dear  to  all  the  gods.  Thus  though  you  died, 
you  did  not  lose  your  name  ;  but  ever  among  mankind, 
Achilles,  your  glory  shall  be  great.  While  as  for  me, 
what  gain  had  I  in  winding  up  the  war  ?  On  my 
return  Zeus  purposed  me  a  miserable  end,  at  the  hands 
of  Aegisthus  and  my  accursed  wife." 

So  they  conversed  together.  And  now  the  Guide 
approached,  the  Speedy-comer,  leading  the  spirits  of 
the  suitors  whom  Odysseus  slew.  Amazed,  the  two 
drew  near  to  see ;  and  the  spirit  of  Agamemnon,  son 
of  Atreus,  perceived  the  son  of  Melaneus,  renowned 
Amphimedon  ;  for  Melaneus  of  Ithaca  was  once  his 
entertainer.  Then  thus  began  the  spirit  of  the  son 
of  Atreus : 

"Amphimedon,  what  has  happened  that  you  come 
to  this  dreary  land,  all  of  you  chosen  men  and  all 
alike  in  years?  One  who  would  pick  the  best  men  of 
a  town  would  choose  no  others.  Was  it  on  shipboard 
that  Poseidon  smote  you,  raising  ill  winds  and  heavy 
seas  ?  Or  did  fierce  men  destroy  you  on  the  land, 
while  you  were  cutting  off  their  kine  or  their  fair 
flocks  of  sheep,  or  while  you  fought  to  win  their  town 
and  carry  off  their  women  ?  Tell  what  I  ask !  I 
call  myself  your  friend.  Do  you  not  recollect  how  I, 
with  godlike  Menelaus,  came  to  your  house  to  urge 
Odysseus  to  follow  us  to  Ilios  on  the  well-benched 
ships?  A  whole  month  long  we  spent,  crossing  the 
open  sea,  and  found  it  hard  to  win  the  spoiler  of 
towns,  Odysseus." 

Then  answered  him  the  spirit  of  Amphimedon : 
44  Great  son  of    Atreus,   Agamemnon,  lord   of    men, 


374  THE   ODYSSEY.        [XXIV.  122-154. 

all  that  3^011  say,  heaven-favored  one,  I  recollect ;  and 
I  in  turn  will  very  plainly  tell  how  a  cruel  end  of 
death  befell  us.  We  wooed  the  wife  of  loii£  o-one 
Odysseus.  She  neither  declined  the  hated  suit  nor 
did  she  end  it,  because  she  planned  for  us  death  and 
dark  doom.  This  was  the  last  pretext  she  cunningly 
devised :  within  the  hall  she  set  up  a  great  loom  and 
went  to  weaving ;  fine  was  the  web  and  very  large ; 
and  then  to  us  said  she :  4  Young  men  who  are  my 
suitors,  though  royal  Odysseus  now  is  dead  forbear 
to  urge  my  marriage  till  I  complete  this  robe,  —  its 
threads  must  not  be  wasted,  —  a  shroud  for  lord 
Laertes,  against  the  time  when  the  fell  doom  of  death 
that  lays  men  low  shall  overtake  him.  Achaean  wives 
about  the  land,  I  fear,  might  give  me  blame  if  he 
should  lie  without  a  shroud,  he  who  had  great  posses- 
sions.' Such  were  her  words,  and  our  high  hearts 
assented.  Then  in  the  daytime  would  she  weave  at 
the  great  web,  but  in  the  night  unravel,  after  her 
torch  was  set.  Thus  for  three  years  she  hid  her  craft 
and  cheated  the  Achaeans.  But  when  the  fourth 
year  came,  as  time  rolled  on,  when  the  months  waned 
and  the  long  days  were  done,  then  at  the  last  one 
of  her  maids,  who  knew  full  well,  confessed,  and  we 
discovered  her  unraveling  the  splendid  web  ;  so  then 
she  finished  it,  against  her  will,  perforce.  When  she 
displayed  the  robe,  after  weaving  the  great  web 
and  washing  it,  like  sun  or  moon  it  shone.  And 
then  some  hostile  god  guided  Odysseus,  —  whence  I 
know  not,  —  to  the  confines  of  our  country,  where  the 
swineherd  has  his  home.  Thither  the  son  of  royal 
Odysseus  also  came,  returning  by  black  ship  from 
sandy  Pylos.  And  when  the  two  had  planned  the 
suitors'  cruel  death,  they  entered  our  famous  town ; 


XXIV.  155-190.]        THE   ODYSSEY.  375 

Odysseus  later,  Telemachus  coining  on  before.  The 
swineherd  brought  Odysseus,  who  wore  a  sorry  garb, 
like  an  old  and  wretched  beggar,  leaning  upon  a  staff. 
Upon  his  back  were  miserable  clothes,  and  none  of  us 
could  know  him  as  he  suddenly  appeared,  not  even 
our  older  men  ;  but  we  assailed  him  with  harsh  words 
and  missiles.  A  while  he  bore  with  patience  this 
pelting  and  abuse  in  his  own  house  ;  but  when  at  last 
the  will  of  aegis-bearing  Zeus  aroused  him,  he  and 
Telemachus  gathered  the  goodly  weapons  and  put 
them  in  the  store-room,  fastening  the  bolts.  Then, 
full  of  craft,  he  bade  his  wife  deliver  to  the  suitors 
the  bow  and  the  gray  steel,  to  be  to  us  ill-fated  men 
means  for  our  sport  and  harbingers  of  death.  Not  one 
of  us  could  draw  the  string  of  the  strong  bow  ;  we  fell 
far  short  of  power.  But  when  the  great  bow  reached 
Odysseus'  hands,  we  shouted  all  together  not  to  give 
the  bow,  whatever  he  might  say.  Telemachus  alone 
urgently  bade  him  take  it.  Then  long-tried  royal 
Odysseus  took  the  bow  in  hand,  bent  it  with  ease,  and 
sent  an  arrow  through  the  steel.  Advancing:  to  the 
threshold,  there  he  stood  and  poured  out  the  swift 
arrows,  glaring  terribly  around.  He  shot  down 
prince  Antinous,  and  then  on  others  turned  his 
grievous  shafts,  with  careful  aim,  and  side  by  side 
they  fell.  Soon  it  was  seen  some  god  was  the  men's 
ally  ;  for  straightway  rushing  down  the  hall,  with  all 
their  might  they  smote  us  right  and  left.  Then  went 
up  moans,  a  dismal  sound,  as  skulls  were  crushed  and 
all  the  pavement  ran  with  blood.  Thus  we  died, 
Agamemnon  ;  and  still  uncared-for  in  Odysseus'  halls 
our  bodies  lie.  Our  friends  at  home  have  had  no 
tidings,  or  they  had  washed  the  dark  clots  from  our 
wounds  and  laid  us  out  with  wailing ;  for  that  is  the 
dead  man's  due." 


376  THE   ODYSSEY.        [XXIV.  191-222. 

Then  answered  the  spirit  of  the  son  of  Atreus  : 
"  Fortunate  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus !  You 
won  a  wife  full  of  all  worth.  How  upright  was  the 
heart  of  true  Penelope,  the  daughter  of  Icarius ! 
How  faithful  to  Odysseus,  the  husband  of  her  youth ! 
Wherefore  the  story  of  her  worth  shall  never  die ; 
but  for  all  humankind  immortal  ones  shall  make  a 
gladsome  son^in_praise  of  steadfast  Penelope.  Not 
like  the  daugnte} <^Tynaareu s  did  she  contrive  vile 
deeds  and  slay  the  husband  of  her  youth.  Of  her  a 
loathsome  song  shall  spread  among  mankind,  and 
bring  an  ill  repute  on  all  the  sex  of  women,  even  on 
well-doers  too." 

So  they  conversed  together,  where  they  stood  within 
the  house  of  Hades,  in  the  secret  places  of  the  earth. 

But  Odysseus  and  his  men,  after  departing  from 
the  town,  soon  reached  the  rich  well-ordered  farmstead 
of  Laertes.  This  place  Laertes  had  acquired  for  him- 
self in  days  gone  by,  after  much  patient  toil.  Here 
was  his  house ;  round  it  on  every  side  there  ran  a 
shed,  in  which  ate,  sat,  and  slept  the  slaves  who  did  his 
pleasure.  Within,  there  lived  an  old  Sicilian  woman, 
who  tended  carefully  the  aged  man  here  at  his  farm, 
far  from  the  town.  Arriving  here,  Odysseus  thus 
addressed  his  servants  and  his  son  : 

"  Go  you  at  once  into  the  stately  house  and  slay 
forthwith  for  dinner  the  fattest  of  the  swine.  But 
I  will  put  my  father  to  the  proof,  and  try  if  he  will 
recognize  and  know  me  by  the  sight,  or  if  he  will  fail 
to  know  me  who  have  been  absent  long." 

So  saying,  he  gave  his  armor  to  his  men,  who  then 
went  quickly  in,  while  Odysseus  approached  the  fruit- 
ful vineyard,  to  make  his  trial  there.  Dolius  he  did 
not  find,  in  crossing  the  long  garden,  nor  any  slaves 


XXIV.  223-257. J         THE   ODYSSEY.  377 

or  men ;  for  tliey  were  gone  to  gather  stones  to  make 
a  vineyard  wall,  and  Dolius  was  their  leader.  His 
father  he  found  alone  in  the  well-ordered  vineyard, 
hoeing  abont  a  plant.  He  wore  a  dirty  tunic,  patched 
and  coarse,  and  round  his  shins  had  bound  sewed 
leather  leggings,  a  protection  against  scratches.  Upon 
his  hands  were  gloves,  to  save  him  from  the  thorns, 
and  on  his  head  a  goatskin  cap  ;  and  so  he  nursed 
his  sorrow. 

When  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  saw  his  father,  worn 
with  old  age  and  in  great  grief  of  heart,  he  stopped 
beneath  a  lofty  pear-tree  and  shed  tears.  Then  in  his 
mind  and  heart  he  doubted  much  whether  to  kiss  his 
father,  to  clasp  him  in  his  arms  and  tell  him  all,  how 
he  had  come  and  found  his  native  land  ;  or  first  to 
question  him  and  prove  him  through  and  through. 
Reflecting  thus,  it  seemed  the  better  way  to  try  him 
first  with  probing  words.  With  this  intent,  royal 
Odysseus  walked  straight  toward  him.  Laertes,  with 
his  head  bent  low,  was  digging  round  the  plant,  and 
standing  by  his  side  his  gallant  son  addressed  him  : 

"  Old  man,  you  have  no  lack  of  skill  in  tending 
gardens.  Of  these  your  care  is  good.  Nothing  is 
here  —  shrub,  fig-tree,  vine,  olive,  or  pear,  or  bed  of 
earth,  —  in  all  the  field  uncared  for.  But  one  thing  I 
will  say ;  be  not  offended.  No  proper  care  is  taken 
of  yourself ;  for  you  are  meeting  hard  old  age,  yet  you 
are  sadly  worn  and  meanly  clad.  It  is  not  as  if  for 
idleness  your  master  had  cast  you  by,  and  nothing 
of  the  slave  shows  in  your  face  or  form.  Rather  you 
seem  a  royal  person  ;  like  one  who  after  taking  bath 
and  food  might  sleep  at  ease,  as  is  the  due  of  age. 
Come,  then,  declare  me  this  and  plainly  tell  whose 
slave  you  are,  whose  farm  you  tend.     And  tell  me 


378  THE    ODYSSEY.        [XXIV.  258-291. 

truly  this,  that  I  may  know  full  well,  if  this  is  really 
Ithaca  to  which  we  now  are  come,  as  the  man  said  just 
now  who  met  me  on  my  way.  He  was  not  overwise, 
however ;  for  he  did  not  deign  to  talk  at  length,  nor 
yet  to  hear  my  talk,  when  I  inquired  for  my  friend, 
and  asked  if  he  were  living  still  or  if  he  were  already 
dead  and  in  the  house  of  Hades.  But  let  me  speak 
of  that  to  yon,  and  do  you  mark  and  listen.  In  my 
own  country  once  I  entertained  a  man  who  had  come 
thither ;  and  none  among  the  traveling  strangers  was 
more  welcome  at  my  house.  He  called  himself  by 
birth  a  man  of  Ithaca,  and  said  his  father  was  Laer- 
tes, son  of  Arceisius.  I  brought  him  home  and  enter- 
tained him  well  and  gave  him  generous  welcome  from 
the  abundance  in  my  house.  Such  gifts  I  also  gave 
as  are  fitting  for  a  guest :  of  fine  -  wrought  gold  I 
gave  him  seven  talents,  gave  him  a  flowered  bowl  of 
solid  silver,  twelve  cloaks  of  single  fold,  as  many  rugs, 
as  many  goodly  mantles,  and  as  many  tunics  too. 
Further,  I  gave  him  women  trained  to  faultless  work, 
any  four  shapely  damsels  whom  he  himself  might 
choose." 

Then  answered  him  his  father,  shedding  tears : 
"  Certainly,  stranger,  you  are  in  the  land  for  which 
you  ask ;  but  lawless  impious  men  possess  it  now. 
Vain  were  the  many  gifts  you  gave.  Yet  had  you 
found  him  living  in  the  land  of  Ithaca,  with  fair  re- 
turn of  gifts  he  had  sent  you  on  your  way,  and  with 
a  generous  welcome  ;  for  that  is  just,  when  one  begins 
a  kindness.  But  come,  declare  me  this,  and  plainly 
tell:  how  many  years  are  passed  since  you  received 
this  guest,  this  hapless  guest,  my  son,  —  if  really  it 
was  he,  ill-fated  man  !  —  whom,  far  from  friends  and 
home,  fishes  devoured  in  the  deep  or  else  on  land  he 


XXIV.  292-323.]         THE    ODYSSEY.  379 

fell  a  prey  to  beasts  and  birds.  No  mother  mourned 
for  him  and  wrapped  him  in  his  shroud,  nor  father 
either,  —  we  who  gave  him  life  !  Nor  did  his  richly- 
dowered  wife,  steadfast  Penelope,  wail  by  her  hus- 
band's couch,  as  the  wife  should,  and  close  his  eyes, 
though  that  is  the  dead  man's  due.  Tell  me,  how- 
ever, truly,  and  let  me  know  full  well :  who  are  you  ? 
of  what  people  ?  Where  is  your  town  and  kindred  ? 
Where  is  the  swift  ship  moored  which  brought  you 
hither,  you  and  your  gallant  comrades  ?  Or  did  you 
come  a  passenger  on  some  strange  ship,  from  which 
they  landed  you  and  sailed  away  ?  " 

Then  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said  :  "  Well, 
I  will  very  plainly  tell  you  all.  I  come  from  Alybas, 
where  I  have  a  noble  house,  and  am  the  son  of  lord 
Apheidas,  the  son  of  Polypemon.  My  own  name  is 
Eperitus.  God  drove  me  from  Sicania  and  brought 
me  here,  against  my  will.  Here  my  ship  lies,  just  off 
the  fields  outside  the  town.  As  for  Odysseus,  five 
years  ago  he  went  away  and  left  my  land.  Ill-fated 
man  !  And  vet  the  birds  were  favorable  at  starting 
and  came  on  his  right  hand.  So  I  rejoiced  and 
sent  him  forth,  and  he  rejoicing  went  his  way.  Our 
hearts  then  hoped  to  meet  again  in  friendship,  and  to 
give  each  other  glorious  gifts." 

So  he  spoke,  and  on  Laertes  fell  a  dark  cloud  of 
grief.  He  caught  in  his  hands  the  powdery  dust  and 
strewed  it  on  his  hoary  head  with  many  groans. 
Odysseus'  heart  was  stirred.  Up  through  his  nostrils 
shot  a  tingling  pang  as  he  beheld  his  father.  For- 
ward he  sprang  and  clasped  and  kissed  him,  saying  : 

"  Lo,  father,  I  am  he  for  whom  you  seek,  now  in  the 
twentieth  year  come  to  my  native  land  !  Then  cease 
this  grief  and  tearful  sighing  ;  for  let  me  tell  you,  — 


380  THE    ODYSSEY.       [XXIV.  324-355. 

and  the  need  of  haste  is  great,  —  I  slew  the  suitors 
in  our  halls,  and  so  avenged  their  galling  insolence 
and  wicked  deeds." 

Then  in  his  turn  Laertes  answered :  "If  you  are 
indeed  my  son,  Odysseus,  now  returned,  tell .  me  some 
trusty  sign  that  so  I  may  believe." 

But  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said :  "  Ex- 
amine first  this  scar,  which  a  boar  inflicted  with  his 
gleaming  tusk  upon  Parnassus,  whither  I  had  gone. 
You  and  my  honored  mother  sent  me  thither,  to  see 
Autolycus,  my  mother's  father,  and  to  obtain  the 
gifts  which  he,  when  here,  agreed  to  give.  Then  come, 
and  let  me  tell  the  trees  in  the  well-ordered  vine- 
yard, which  you  once  gave,  when  I,  being  still  a  child, 
begged  you  for  this  and  that,  as  I  followed  about  the 
garden.  Among  these  trees  we  passed.  You  named 
them  and  described  them.  You  gave  me  thirteen 
pear-trees,  ten  apples,  forty  figs.  And  here  you 
marked  off  fifty  rows  of  vines  to  give,  each  one  in 
bearing  order.  Along  the  rows  clusters  of  all  sorts 
hang,  whenever  the  seasons  sent  by  Zeus  give  them 
their  fullness." 

As  he  spoke  thus,  Laertes'  knees  grew  feeble  and 
his  very  soul,  when  he  recognized  the  tokens  which 
Odysseus  exactly  told.  Round  his  dear  son  he  threw 
his  arms,  and  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  drew  him 
fainting  toward  him.  But  when  he  gained  his  breath, 
and  in  his  breast  the  spirit  rallied,  finding  his  words 
once  more  Laertes  said  : 

"  O  father  Zeus,  surely  you  gods  still  live  on  high 
Olympus,  if  the  suitors  have  indeed  paid  for  their 
wanton  sin  !  And  yet  I  have  great  fear  at  heart  that 
all  the  men  of  Ithaca  may  soon  attack  us  here  and 
may  send  tidings  through  the  Cephallenian  cities." 


XXIV.  35G-388.J       THE   ODYSSEY.  381 

But  wise  Odysseus  answered  him  and  said  :  "  Be  of 
good  courage  !  Let  not  these  things  vex  your  mind ! 
But  let  us  hasten  to  the  house  which  stands  beside 
the  orchard.  Thither  I  sent  Telemachus,  the  neat- 
herd and  the  swineherd,  that  there  they  straightway 
might  prepare  our  meal." 

So  talked  the  two,  and  walked  to  the  fair  house. 
And  when  they  reached  the  stately  buildings,  they 
found  Telemachus,  the  neatherd  and  the  swineherd, 
carving  much  meat  and  mixing  sparkling  wine.  Soon 
in  his  room  the  Sicilian  servant  bathed  brave  Laertes 
and  anointed  him  with  oil  and  round  him  wrapped  a 
goodly  cloak.  And  Athene,  drawing  nigh,  filled  out 
the  limbs  of  the  shepherd  of  the  people,  and  made 
him  taller  than  before  and  larger  to  behold.  Out  of 
the  bath  he  came,  and  his  son  wondered  to  see  how 
like  the  immortal  gods  his  bearing  was  ;  and  speaking 
in  winged  words  he  said : 

"  Certainly,  father,  one  of  the  everlasting  gods  has 
made  your  face  and  figure  nobler  to  behold." 

Then  in  his  turn  said  wise  Laertes :  "  O  father 
Zeus,  Athene,  and  Apollo,  would  I  were  what  I  was 
when  I  took  Nericus,  the  stately  citadel  on  the  main 
shore,  leading  my  Cephallenians  ;  and  would  that  thus 
I  yesterday  had  stood  beside  you  in  our  hall,  my 
armor  on  my  shoulders,  beating  back  the  suitors ! 
Then  had  I  shook  the  knees  of  many  in  the  hall,  and 
you  had  felt  your  inmost  heart  grow  warm  ! ' 

So  they  conversed  together.  Meanwhile  the  others, 
after  ceasing  from  their  labor  of  laying  out  the  meal, 
took  seats  in  order  on  couches  and  on  chairs.  They 
all  were  laying  hands  upon  their  food,  when  in  came 
aged  Dolius  and  his  sons,  tired  from  their  work.  Their 
mother,  the  old  Sicilian  woman,  had  gone  and  called 


382  THE    ODYSSEY.       [XXIV.  389-419. 

them ;  for  she  provided  for  them,  and  diligently 
tended  the  old  man  now  that  old  age  was  on  him. 
When  the  men  saw  Odysseus  and  marked  him  in  their 
minds,  they  stood  still  in  the  hall,  astonished ;  but 
Odysseus  kindly  accosting  them,  spoke  thus : 

"  Old  man,  sit  down  to  dinner  and  lay  aside  sur- 
prise ;  for  eager  as  we  were  to  take  our  food,  we 
waited  long  about  the  hall,  ever  expecting  you." 

He  spoke,  and  Dolius  ran,  both  hands  outstretched, 
and  seizing  Odysseus'  hand  kissed  it  upon  the  wrist, 
and  speaking  in  winged  words  he  said : 

"  Dear  master,  because  you  have  come  home  to  us 
who  sorely  missed  you  and  never  thought  to  see  you 
any  more,  —  but  gods  themselves  have  brought  you, 
—  hail  and  rejoice  !  Gods  grant  you  blessings  !  And 
tell  me  truly  this,  that  I  may  know  it  well:  does 
heedful  Penelope  understand  that  you  are  here,  or 
shall  we  send  her  tidings  ? ' 

Then  wise  Odvsseus  answered  him  and  said  :  "  Old 
man,  she  understands  already.  Why  should  you 
think  of  that  ?  " 

So  he  spoke,  and  Dolius  took  his  seat  upon  a  pol- 
ished bench.  Likewise  the  sons  of  Dolius,  gathering 
round  renowned  Odysseus,  greeted  him  with  theirc 
words  and  clasped  his  hands,  and  then  sat  down  in 
order  by  Dolius,  their  father.  Thus  were  they  busied 
with  their  dinner  in  the  hall. 

Rumor,  meanwhile,  with  tidings,  ran  swiftly  through 
the  town,  reporting  the  suitors'  awful  death  and  doom ; 
and  those  who  heard  gathered  from  every  side,  with 
moans  and  groans,  before  the  palace  of  Odysseus. 
Out  of  the  house  they  each  brought  forth  his  dead, 
and  buried  them  ;  and  all  that  came  from  other  towns 
they  gave  to  fishermen  to  carry  home  on  their  swift 


XXIV.  420-449.]        THE   ODYSSEY.  383 

ships.  Then  they  went  trooping  to  the  assembly,  sad 
at  heart.  And  when  they  were  assembled  and  all  had 
come  together,  Eupeithes  rose  and  thus  addressed 
them  :  for  he  cherished  in  his  heart  a  sorrow  for  his 
son  that  could  not  be  appeased,  —  his  son  Antinoiis, 
the  first  whom  royal  Odysseus  slew.  With  tears  for 
him,  he  thus  addressed  them,  saying : 

"  O  friends,  this  man  has  wrought  a  monstrous 
deed  on  the  Achaeans !  For  some  he  carried  off  in 
ships,  —  good  men  and  many,  —  and  then  he  lost  his 
hollow  ships  and  lost  his  people  too  ;  and  now  he 
has  come  home  and  killed  the  very  noblest  men  of 
Cephallenia.  Up  then  !  Let  us  set  forth,  before  he 
swiftly  goes  to  Pylos,  and  sacred  Elis  where  the  Epei- 
ans  rule,  or  we  shall  be  disgraced  henceforth  forever ; 
for  it  will  be  a  shame  for  future  times  to  know,  if  we 
take  no  revenge  on  those  who  slew  our  sons  and  bro- 
thers. Life  to  my  thinking  then  would  be  no  longer 
sweet.  Nay,  I  would  die  at  once  and  join  the  men 
now  slain.  But  forth,  ere  they  escape  from  us  across 
the  sea ! " 

Tears  in  his  eyes,  he  spoke ;  pity  touched  all  the 
Achaeans.  But  Medon  now  drew  near,  and  with  him 
the  sacred  bard,  from  the  palace  of  Odysseus ;  for 
slumber  left  them.  They  stood  still  in  the  midst,  and 
wonder  fell  on  all,  while  Medon,  a  man  of  understand- 
ing, thus  addressed  them : 

"  Hearken  to  me  now,  men  of  Ithaca ;  for  not 
without  consent  of  the  immortal  gods  Odysseus 
planned  these  deeds.  I  myself  saw  a  deathless  god 
stand  by  Odysseus,  in  all  points  like  to  Mentor.  And 
this  immortal  god  appeared  before  Odysseus,  cheering 
him  on ;  then  to  the  consternation  of  the  suitors  he 
stormed  along  the  hall,  and  side  by  side  they  fell." 


384  THE    ODYSSEY.        [XXIV.  450-482. 

As  he  spoke  thus,  pale  fear  took  hold  on  all.  But 
to  them  spoke  the  old  lord  Halitherses,  the  son  of 
Mastor ;  for  he  alone  looked  both  before  and  after. 
He  with  good  will  addressed  them  thus,  and  said : 

"  Hearken  now,  men  of  Ithaca,  to  what  I  say.  By 
your  own  fault,  my  friends,  these  deeds  are  done ;  be- 
cause you  paid  no  heed  to  me  nor  yet  to  Mentor,  the 
shepherd  of  the  people,  in  hindering  your  sons  from 
foolish  crime.  They  wrought  a  monstrous  deed  in 
wanton  willfulness,  when  they  destroyed  the  goods  and 
wronged  the  wife  of  one  who  was  their  prince,  saying 
that  he  would  come  no  more.  Let  then  the  past  be 
ended,  and  listen  to  what  I  say :  do  not  set  forth,  or 
some  may  find  a  self-sought  ill." 

He  spoke ;  but  with  a  mighty  cry  up  started  more 
than  half,  —  together  in  their  seats  remained  the  rest, 
—  for  his  counsel  had  not  pleased  them.  Eupeithes 
they  approved,  and  they  straightway  ran  for  weapons. 
Then  when  they  had  arrayed  themselves  in  glittering 
bronze,  they  gathered  in  a  troop  outside  the  spacious 
town.  Eupeithes  in  his  folly  led  them.  He  thought 
to  avenge  the  murder  of  his  son,  yet  was  himself  never 
to  come  back  more,  but  there  would  meet  his  doom. 

Meanwhile  Athene  said  to  Zeus,  the  son  of  Kronos: 
"  Our  father,  son  of  Kronos,  most  high  above  all 
rulers,  speak  what  I  ask :  what  is  your  secret  pur- 
pose ?  Will  you  still  further  stir  up  evil  strife  and 
the  dread  din  of  war,  or  do  you  stablish  peace  betwixt 
the  two?" 

Then  answered  her  cloud-gathering  Zeus  and  said  : 
"  My  child,  why  question  me  of  this  ?  For  was  it  not 
yourself  proposed  the  plan  to  have  Odysseus  crush 
these  men  by  his  return  ?  Do  as  you  will ;  I  tell 
you  what  is  wise.     Now  royal  Odysseus  has  avenged 


XXIV.  483-512.]        THE    ODYSSEY.  385 

himself  upon  the  suitors,  let  a  sure  league  be  made 
and  he  be  always  king ;  while  for  the  death  of  sons 
and  brothers  we  bring  about  oblivion.  So  shall  all 
love  each  other  as  before,  and  wealth  and  peace 
abound." 

With  words  like  these  he  roused  Athene,  eager 
enough  before,  and  she  went  dashing  down  the  ridges 
of  Olympus. 

Now  when  the  men  had  stayed  desire  for  cheering 
food,  then  thus  began  long-tried  royal  Odysseus  :  '*  Let 
some  one  go  and  see  if  our  foes  are  drawing  near." 

He  spoke ;  and  out  the  son  of  Dolius  ran,  as  he  was 
bidden,  and  went  and  stood  upon  the  threshold,  and 
saw  the  men  all  near.  Then  straight  to  Odysseus  in 
winged  words  he  called :  "  Here  they  are,  close  at 
hand  !     Quick,  let  us  arm  ! " 

As  soon  as  he  spoke,  there  sprang  to  arms  the 
four  men  with  Odysseus  and  the  six  sons  of  Dolius. 
Laertes  too  and  Dolius  put  on  armor  ;  gray  though 
they  wrere,  still  warriors  at  need.  Then  when  they 
had  arrayed  themselves  in  glittering  bronze,  they 
opened  the  doors  and  sallied  forth,  Odysseus  leading. 

But  Athene  now  drew  near,  the  daughter  of  Zeus, 
likened  to  Mentor  in  her  form  and  voice ;  whom  long- 
tried  royal  Odysseus  saw  with  joy,  and  to  Telema- 
chus  his  son  he  straightway  said :  "  Now  shall  you 
learn,  Telemachus,  by  taking  part  yourself  while  men 
are  battling  where  the  best  are  proved,  how  not  to 
bring  disgrace  upon  your  line  of  sires ;  for  they  from 
ancient  times  were  famed  for  strength  and  bravery 
through  all  the  land." 

Then  answered  him  discreet  Telemachus  :  "  In  this 
my  present  mood,  dear  father,  you  shall  see  me,  if  you 
will,  bring  no  disgrace  upon  the  line  of  which  you 
speak." 


386  THE    ODYSSEY.        [XXIV.  513-544. 

So  said  he,  and  Laertes  too  was  glad  and  said  : 
44  Oh,  what  a  day  for  me  is  this,  kind  gods  !  Right 
glad  am  I.     My  son  and  son's  son  vie  in  valor." 

And  standing  by  his  side,  clear-eyed  Athene  said : 
"  Son  of  Arceisius,  far  the  dearest  of  my  friends,  call 
on  the  clear-eyed  maid  and  father  Zeus ;  then  swing 
your  long  spear  and  straight  let  it  fly." 

With  words  like  these  Pallas  Athene  inspired  him 
with  great  power.  He  prayed  to  the  daughter  of 
mighty  Zeus  ;  then  swung  his  long  spear  and  straight 
let  it  fly,  and  struck  Eupeithes  on  the  helmet's  brazen 
cheek.  This  did  not  stay  the  spear  ;  the  point  passed 
through.  He  fell  with  a  thud ;  his  armor  rattled 
round  him.  On  the  front  ranks  Odysseus  fell,  he  and 
his  gallant  son,  and  smote  them  with  their  swords  and 
double-pointed  spears.  And  now  they  certainly  had 
slain  them  all  and  cut  them  off  from  coming  home, 
had  not  Athene,  daughter  of  aegis  -  bearing  Zeus, 
shouted  aloud  and  held  back  all  the  host : 

"  Hold,  men  of  Ithaca,  from  cruel  combat,  and 
without  bloodshed  straightway  part !  " 

As  thus  Athene  spoke,  pale  fear  took  hold  on  all. 
Their  weapons  all  flew  from  their  trembling  hands 
and  fell  upon  the  ground,  as  the  goddess  gave  her  cry. 
To  the  town  they  turned,  eager  to  save  their  lives. 
Fearfully  shouted  long  -  tried  royal  Odysseus,  and 
gathering  his  might  swooped  like  a  soaring  eagle. 
Then  too  the  son  of  Kronos  cast  his  blazing  bolt,  and 
down  it  fell  by  the  dread  father's  clear-eyed  child. 
And  now  to  Odysseus  said  clear-eyed  Athene : 

"  High-born  son  of  Laertes,  ready  Odysseus,  stay  ! 
Cease  from  the  struggle  of  uncertain  war  !  Let  not 
the   son   of  Kronos,   far-seeing   Zeus,    be   moved    to 


anger 


!  » 


XXIV.  545-548.]       THE   ODYSSEY.  387 

So  spoke  Athene.  Odysseus  heeded,  and  was  glad 
at  heart.  Then  for  all  coining  time  betwixt  the  two 
a  peace  was  made  by  Pallas  Athene,  daughter  of  aegis- 
bearing  Zeus,  likened  to  Mentor  in  her  form  and 
voice. 


V      • 


DAY    AND    to    J°  S°  CENT8  ON  ^^ 


L»  21-100ra.7, '40  (6f 


YB  &£#>' 
YB  02663 


{ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


* 


i  „.  .•.  * ,  .  ,< 


*       7 


- 
- 

' 

• 

j 

>*••♦••«••».  _  . 

